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Dictionary of medieval romance and roman 



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A DICTIONARY OF MEDIEVAL 
ROMANCE AND ROMANCE WRITERS 



UNIFORM WITH THIS VOLUME 

DICTIONARIES 
TO FAMOUS AUTHORS 

In which the various Characters and Scenes are 
alphabetically arranged and described. Synopses 
of the Author's various works are also included. 

DICKENS. A. J. Philip. 

THOMAS HARDY. With 2 Maps of Wessex. 
F. Saxelby. 

KIPLINQ. W. A. Young. 

SCOTT. (Waveiley Novels). M. F. A. 
Husband. 

THACKERAY. I. G. Mudge and E. N. 
Seaks. 

OSCAR WILDE. Stuart Mason. 

ZOLA. (Rougon-Macquart Novels). With 
Map. J. G. Patterson. 



" Not much honour is generally gained by doing such 
work as is represented in these dictionaries. When, how- 
ever, it is done with the thoroughness and completeness 
shown by the compilers in this case, the work ought to be 
warmly acknowledged. It is a labour which will save much 
labour to others." — Tke Scotsman. 



A DICTIONARY 

OF 



MEDIEVAL ROMANCE 
AND ROMANCE WRITERS 



BY 

LEWIS SPENCE 

AUTHOR OF "A DICTIONAEY OF NON-CLASSICAL MYTHOLOGY," "THE MYTHS 

OF MEXICO AND PERU," "THE CIVILISATION OF ANCIENT 

MEXICO," ETC, ETC. 




LONDON 

GEORGE ROUTLEDGE & SONS, Limited 
New York: E. P. BUTTON & CO. 



9\So)o\o']o 



First printed in August, 1913. 



PREFACE 

The term " romance " is so wide in its modem acceptance, and so loose in its 
application, that it will be weU at the outset to attempt to formulate a definition 
of the word, which will also serve to define the scope of this work. Briefly, 
a romance may be described as a tale written at any period between the 
eleventh and fourteenth centuries, which deals with the age of chivalry. The 
narrower meaning of the word can only be applied to such tales of chivalry 
and love as were written in the " Eoman " (that is, in Old French). 

Jean Bodel, a French romancer who flourished in the twelfth century, 
sings — 

" Ne sont que trois mati&res a nul home entendant, 
De France, de Bretagne, et de Eome la grant." 

Thus the tales of Charlemagne, Arthur, and Eome (that is, of ancient history), 
alluded to in the verse, were held by Jean as the only themes which a 
contemporary poet might worthily sing of. 

But no such bounds can be set to the great Empire of Eomance by its 
modern students. Since Bodel's day its frontiers have been extended into 
regions that he did not know of. But it is necessary to exercise care in fixing 
its limits in order that territory which does not rightly belong to it is not 
included; in other words, that only those bodies of literature which have 
been evolved from it, have affinities with it, or are of the same genre or class, 
should be included. 

Thus, the Celtic prototypes of the Arthurian romance deserve inclusion, as 
do those Italian and Spanish tales which were adapted in the Peninsulas from 
the romances of Arthur and Charlemagne. The British Isles also produced 
a wealth of Arthurian romance of their own, and examples of this have been 
included. 

As regards the great Teutonic cycles of story, it has been thought well to 
include these. They are of the same genre, and, at least, as much romantic in 
spirit, as the subjects of the Matiere de Bretagne, or, at any rate, that part of it 
which emanated from France. Many of the Icelandic saga-stories have also been 
included for a similar reason. A dividing line has been drawn where the tale 
is either purely historical or mythological in its purport. Such examples must 
be relegated to their proper sphere — that of pure myth : they have no place 
in a dictionary of romance. But wherever the elements or traces of myth 
have been observed in a romance, such a circumstance has not miUtated 
against its inclusion, and an effort has been made in each case to elucidate 
the mythological references and obscurities where these occur. 

Such being the scope of the work, the reader will look in vain through its 
pages for reference to such works as are included in the term " romance " in 
its more modern sense. Thus the "romances" of the school of Mile, de 
Scud6ry and the extravagant fictions of the later " romantic revival " are not 



vi PEEFACE 

represented. These are only romances inasmuch as they partook of the 
"prodigious " element of romance proper, and have nothing else in common 
■with it. Moreover, such a lapse of time separates them from the older romances 
that they must be regarded as altogether a separate form of literature. 

Several of the articles will be remarked as more extended in scope than 
others. This applies to that on Guyot, whom I regard as important as being 
the probable originator of the Grail legend. The Morte d' Arthur I have also 
summarized at length, as being the greatest English example of the Arthurian 
legend, and a treasure-house of Arthurian lore. 

It is not claimed that every example which comes under the heads above 
outUned is dealt vrith. But, while I shall welcome all corrections and sugges- 
tions for a possible new edition, it will be found, I hope, that by far the larger 
number have been included, and that no outstanding romance has been 
altogether neglected. Many romances still remain in MS. in the seclusion of 
small Continental Ubraries, and to include some of these has been found im- 
practicable. But it is hoped that the work wiU provide a trustworthy book 
of reference on a subject which is yearly attracting greater attention, and that 
it will prove of assistance not only to the general reader, but also to the 
student of comparative literature and folklore. 



L. S. 



6, Stlvan Peace, 

EDmBUBCtE. 



A DICTIONARY OF MEDIEVAL ROMANCE 
AND ROMANCE WRITERS 



ACCOLON OF GAUL. A knight loved 
by Morgan le Fay (q.v.), who gave 
him the scabbard of Arthur's 
sword Excalibur, which prevented 
its owner from bleeding, however 
sorely he might be wounded. By 
reason of his possession of this 
scabbard, he nearly succeeded in 
slaying Arthur. He died of the 
wounds he received in combat 
with the Mng. 

ACHEFLOUR. The mother of 
Percyvelle and sister of Arthur. 
Alluded to in the Thornton MS. 
of the Grail legend. (Vide " Bho- 
cadrans.")j 

ADDANC OF THE LAKE, Evidently 
a water-spirit or monster. Al- 
luded to in the Mabinogi tale of 
Peredur. It slays the inhabitants 
of the palace of the King of the 
Tortures daily. Peredur receives 
a magic stone from a certain 
damsel, by which he is enabled to 
see the Addanc whilst remaining 
invisible to it, and succeeds in 
slaying the monster. 

ADLAND, KING. Mentioned in the 
romance of King Estmere as the 
father of the lady who wedded 
King Estmere (q.v.). He was 
beset by two kings who desired 
his daughter. The solution of 
his dilemma was the death of one 
of the lovers at the hands of the 
other. 



ADLER. A companion of King 
Estmere (q.v.), in the romance of 
that name. He receives the credit 
in the romance of successfully 
winning for King Estmere the 
daughter of King Adland. 

AED THE FAIR. Chief sage of 
Ireland. Author of the Voyage of 
Maeldun (q.v.). 

AEDA. In Irish romance, dwarf 
of King Fergus mac Leda (q.v.). 
The lover and slayer of Vivionn. 
He is mentioned in the tale of the 
Fair Giantess, to be found in the 
Colloquy of the Ancients (q.v.). 

AEI. In Irish romance, the death 
plain of the bull of AiliU (q.v.) and 
Maev (q.v.). 

AGARAN. Alluded to in the Queste 
del Saint Graal as the nephew of 
a hermit encountered by Lancelot. 

AGLOVALE, SIR. Knight of King 
Arthur, nephew to the Queen of 
Orkney, and brother of Perceval. 
He meets his death at the hands 
of Lancelot in carrying out the 
punishment of Guinever. (Vide 
"Morted'Arthur.") 

AGOLANT. A romance of the Charle- 
magne cycle (q.v.) contained in an 
MS. in the British Museum (King's 
Library, 15 E. VI.) together with 
other of the Carlovingian tales. 
It depicts the fusing of the Carlo- 
vingian sub-cycle proper, and of 

B 



AGR 

the allied feudal sub-cycles, and 
is in heroic pentameters, generally, 
though rather irregular, running 
into rhyme. The subject is a war 
of the Franks against the Saracens 
under their king Agolant ; Charle- 
magne, in order to give them battle, 
having to cross Aspremont, by 
which is meant either the Alps 
or the. Pyrenees. The romance 
has left a deep impression upon 
Itahan Hterature, and was one of 
the most popular stories of the 
Middle Ages. It exhibits a more 
modern character when compared 
with such poems as The Song of 
Boland or Garin, and many marvels 
are recounted concerning Aspre- 
mont and its inhabitants. The 
early adventures of Naymes (g'-f.), 
and the love of a paynim queen 
for him, as weU as the first exploits 
of Roland, are dealt with ; but the 
poem is full of imitations and 
elaborations of the Song of Roland. 
In the great battle which is de- 
scribed in the course of the ro- 
mance the Franks bestow a crush- 
ing defeat on the Saracens, whilst 
Hiaumont, Agolant's son, is, like 
Roland by Oliver, vainly pressed 
by a friend to sound his horn to 
obtain succour from his father. 
Thus the story of Roncevaux is 
simply reversed. At this battle 
Roland is dubbed knight by 
Charles, who girds his famous 
sword, Durandal, by his side. 
From many accompanying cir- 
cumstances the date of the poem 
may be fixed about the middle 
of the twelfth century. (Cf. 
Bekker, introduction to the Pro- 
ven§al poem of Fierahras, Berhn, 
Reinier, 1829.) 

AGRAMANT. (See "Orlando Inna- 
morato " and " Orlando Furioso.") 
King of Africa, invaded France to 
revenge his father Troyano, slain 
by the Christians. He besieged 



AIF 

Paris, was defeated with great 
slaughter, then retired to Arli. 
He was latterly slain by Orlando. 

AGRAVAINE, SIR. Son of the Queen 
of Orkney, brother to Mordred, 
Gawaine, Gareth, and Gtaheris. 
He plotted against Lancelot and 
Guinevere, and was subsequently 
slain by the former. (Vide " Morte 
d'Arthur.") 

AGRETES. King of Camelot. He is 
alluded to in the Grand Saint Graal 
as being angered at Josephes for 
Christianizing his folk, and, pre- 
tending to become a Christian 
himself, grievously persecuted the 
converts among his people on the 
departure of Josephes. For so 
doing he was punished with mad- 
ness and death. 

AGUIGRENONS, MARSHAL. In Grail 

romance. King Qamadex's general, 
whom Sir Perceval fights with and 
overcomes in defence of a beau- 
teous maiden, Blanchefleur. He 
is sent to King Arthur's court, 
where he is soon followed by King 
Clamadex (q.v.). 

AIDEEN. Wife of Oscar, a champion 
of the Fianna (q.v.). She died of 
grief after he was slain at the 
battle of Gowra, and was buried 
by Oscar's father, Oisin, on Ben 
Edar in Howth, where a dolmen 
was raised over her. 

AIFA (Eefa). An amazonian ohief- 
tainess, in early Irish romance. 
Skatha, a warrior- woman of the 
Land of Shadows (perhaps the 
Isle of Skye), made war upon her, 
in which campaign Cuchulain {q.v.) 
took a prominent part. He met 
Aifa in single combat, and suc- 
ceeded in vanquishing her by the 
stratagem of arousing her fears 
for her horses and chariot during 
the encounter. Whilst she turned 
to view the imagined catastrophe 
which had overtaken them, she 



AIL 



AIN 



was seized by Cuchulain, who 
fled with her to the army of Skatha, 
with whom she cemented a truce. 
She had a son by Cuchulain, whom 
in after-years he slew unwittingly. 

AILUL (1). « Edge of Battle," Father 
of Maeldun (q.v.). Encamping 
with his king, during a foray 
into foreign territory, near a 
convent of nuns, he had the 
opportunity of offering his love 
to one of thean as she came out 
to strike the midnight bell. In 
due time she gave birth to a 
posthumous son, whom she named 
Maeldun. AiUll was burnt, with 
the church of Doocloone, by reavers 
from Leix. 

AILILL (2). Brother of Eochy, High 
King of Ireland, alluded to in the 
Cycle of Ulster. He fell sick by 
reason of his great love for Etain, 
daughter of Etar, and wife of his 
brother. Eochy went on a jour- 
ney, and left Etain to care for the 

' sick AiliU, who avowed his passion 
for her. She made a tryst with 
him in a house near Tara. But on 
the night before it, Aihll was cast 
into a deep sleep, and failed to 
arrive at the appointed time. His 
apparition, however, visited the 
queen, and spoke of his illness, 
departing wearily. In his sleep 
his madness for Etain had ' van- 
ished, and she on her part became 
aware that she was once a goddess, 
and that the apparition who visited 
her was none other than Midar 
the Proud, her god-spouse of the 
divine tribe of Danaan, with whom 
she afterwards disappeared. {Vide 
" Etain.") 

AILILL (3). In Irish romance, son 
of Laery (q.v.) ; treacherously 
slain by his uncle Co vac (q.v.). 

AILILL (4). King of Coraiacht, hus- 
band of Maev (q.v.). He assisted 
Angus Og (q.v.) to besiege Ethal 



Anubal (q.v.), with whose daughter 
the latter had fallen in love, and 
as the husband of Maev he took a 
foremost part in the Cattle Raid 
of Quelgny (q.v.). Finally he was 
slain by Conall (q.v.). 

AILILL OLUM. King of Munster. 
He cruelly stole the love of the 
Goddess Aine (q.v.), and in conse- 
quence met his death by means 
of her magic arts, 

AIMERI DE NARBONNES. (Vide 
" Garin De Montglane.") 

AINE. An Irish love-goddess. In 
Irish romance, the _ patroness of 
Munster, daughter of the Danaan 
Owel. She was loved by many a 
mortal, among whom are to be 
noted Ailill Olum (q.v.), King of 
Munster, and a Fitzgerald. By 
her the latter became the father of 
the semi-divine wizard Earl Gerald, 
the fourth Earl of Desmond, 
from whom many aristocratic 
families of Munster trace their 
descent. Her name is to be 
found in Knockainey ("Hill of 
Aine"). tike the other Danaan 
deities, she was a goddess of the 
earth, and she figures prominently 
in Munster folk-lore. On one 
occasion, at the bidding of Earl 
Gerald, she planted her hill with 
pease in a single night. On Mid- 
summer Eve her peasantry would 
walk round Knockainey, carrying 
lighted torches of hay and straw. 
Then they would depart to their 
own fields, waving the torches 
over their crops and cattle, that 
good luck might attend them the 
next year. D. Fitzgerald, in his 
Popular Tales of Ireland, in the 
Revue Celtique, vol. iv., tells us 
that on St. John's Eve this annual 
ceremony was omitted, as a neigh- 
bour had died. That night, how- 
ever, the torches blazed in greater 
numbers, and at the head of the 



AIN 



ALE 



procession walked the goddess 
herself. Again, it is related that 
on a similar occasion some girls 
remained longer upon the hill to 
watch the torches and to join in 
the games. To these Aine sud- 
denly appeared to thank them for 
the honour, and to request them 
to return home ; as she required 
the hiU to herself and her fairy 
company. These invisible beings 
several of the maidens perceived 
through a ring held up by the 
goddess. 

AINLE. Brother of Naisi {q.v.), men- 
tioned in the Ulster cycle. 

AJOUB. {Vide " Florice and Blanch- 
fleur.") Principal Imam of the 
great mosque. Urged by Mohady, 
his religious brother, he perse- 
cuted Blanchfleur, and was killed 
in a duel by Florice, who defended 
her. 

ALAINS LE GROS. The youngest son 
of Brons (q.v.), chosen byJosephes 
(q.v.) as the Keeper of the Grail. 
He was instructed by Josephes 
to take the net from the Grail 
table and cast it into a certain 
lake. Alains caught one great 
fish, which his hungry company 
considered was insufficient to feed 
them all. But Alains having 
prayed and shared it in three, all 
are suflSced. He was called in 
consequence " The Rich Fisher," 
and all the Grail-Keepers after 
him bore this name, " but they 
were more blessed than he, being 
crowned Mngs, whereas he never 
wore a crown." The incident is 
described in the Grand Saint Oraal. 

ALAIS. In the Charlemagne cycle, 
wife of Eaoul of Cambray (q.v.). 

ALBERICH or ANDWARI. (Vide 
" Nibelungenlied.") A dwarf who 
guards a treasure, possessor of a 
magic ring, symbolic of wealth 



and of the reproductivity of nature. 
In the stories of the Volsungs (q.v.), 
he transformed himself into a 
pike, and brought from the river 
gold for Loki (q.v.) and Ram. 
The Nibelung story shows him to 
be the owner of a cap of darkness, 
the power of which he gave to 
Siegfried (q.v.), whose treasure he 
guarded until after his death. 

ALBRACCA. The capital city of 
Galafron, King of Cathay. It was 
besieged by Agrican, King of 
Tartary, who had been an un- 
successful suitor for the hand of 
AngeHca, Galafron's daughter. 
Angelica obtained the assistance 
of many knights, both pagan and 
the peers of Charlemagne, among 
them Sacripant, King of Circassia, 
but to no avail, for Agrican suc- 
ceeded in taking the city. Ange- 
lica, however, escaped. (Vide 
" Orlando Furioso.") 

ALDA. Sister of Oliver (q.v.), and 
the betrothed of Roland (q.v.). 
She first espied him from the walls 
of Viana, invested at the time by 
Charlemagne, and, although an 
enemy, greeted him courteously 
and kindly. On hearing of his 
death at Roncevaux, she died 
suddenly of grief. 

ALEINE. The niece of Gauvain or 
Gawaine. She is alluded to in 
the Didot Perceval as inciting 
Perceval to take part in an 
Easter tournament at the court 
of King Arthur, from which he 
had hitherto refrained. She sent 
him a suit of red armour; he 
entered the lists luiknown, over- 
threw all his opponents, and won 
a vacant place at the Rovmd Table. 

ALEXANDER THE GREAT. (Vide 
" Roman d 'Alexandre.") 

ALEXANDER and DINDIMUS. The 
letters of Alexander the Great 



ALE 



ALE 



to Dindimus, King of the Brah- 
mans, and his repUes, constitute 
an alliterative romance translated 
from the Latin about 1340-50. 
The unique MS. is housed in the 
Bodleian Library, at Oxford. 
The general contents of the work, 
which is' fragmentary, relate how 
that after Alexander had slain 
Perseus, King of India, he came 
to the country of the Oxydracca, 
the people of which are called 
Gymnosophists. Their king in- 
forms him that he has nothing to 
gain by subduing them. 'Alex- 
ander offers them peace, and pro- 
mises to grant them a boon, upon 
which they ask him to give them 
everlasting life. He rephes that 
such is not within his power to 
grant. Next he sees wonderful 
trees which only grow during 
sunlight, and disappear into the 
darkness. These trees are guarded 
by birds that spit deadly fire. 
His journey resumed, he arrives 
on the banks of the Ganges, a 
river impassable except in July 
and August. He sends mes- 
sengers across the river in a boat 
with a letter to the king of that 
country. This king is called Din- 
dimus. The rest of the poem 
concerns five letters which pass 
between him and Alexander. In 
the first letter, Alexander asks 
Dindimus to inform him of the 
habits of his subjects. The second 
letter, which is Dindimus's reply, 
outlines the customs of that 
people. Dindimus states that his 
subjects Uve simple fives; they 
never plough, fish nor hunt, five 
frugally, and die at a fixed age. 
They avoid lusts, eat fruits, drink 
milk or water, speak truthfully, 
never covet, nor make war. 
" Your gods," says he, " fikewise 
are evil, — each one presides over 
some member ; your idols lead 
you into sins, for which you shall 



endure endless torture." The 
third letter contains Alexander's 
reply. He asks, " Why blame 
us ? Your account of yourself 
is a miserable one, to be neither 
envied nor imitated. Ye are 
beasts, but we are men. We 
work hard and earn pleasure. 
You dishonour your Creator, and 
your deeds are but foohsh." Din- 
dimus rephes, " We are but 
pilgrims on earth. Your boastful 
deeds only make you proud. The 
gold which you prize cannot 
satisfy thirst ; and we are wiser 
in treading it underfoot. You 
know not how you err, and it is 
a kindness to tell you. The 
men who do not fear death deserve 
to be struck down by Mghtning." 
Alexander concludes the corre- 
spondence by replying thus : " Ye 
are so set on an island that no 
strangers can come to you. God 
has decreed for you misery in this 
life, and pain in the hereafter." 
After the letters had ended, Alex- 
ander erects a piUar of marble to 
mark the farthest spot which he 
had succeeded in reaching. He 
and his men then begin their 
homeward journey. The two lead- 
ing ideas, which are both theo- 
logical, display the contrast be- 
t'Wfeen the active hfe and the con- 
templative fife — the European and 
the Asiatic. Though the poem 
deals with India and attempts an 
account of the life of the Brahmans, 
there is Httle Oriental thought in 
its composition. A point of in- 
terest is the name of Dindimus 
given to the supposed King of 
the Brahmans. It should more 
properly be Dandamis, and is not 
really a proper name, but a title. 

ALEXANDRE DE BERN AY. Some- 
times called Alexandre of Paris, a 
French poet of the twelfth century. 
Little or nothing is known about 



ALE 



ALG 



his life, and he is remembered 
simply by his Roman d' Alexandre, 
an epic treating of the exploits 
of Alexander the Great. This 
poem is based largely on an 
earlier one on the same subject, 
the work of Lambert - h - Gros, 
occasionally styled Lambert-le- 
Court ; but Alexandre de Bemay 
employed a wholly different man- 
ner from this writer, and is gene- 
rally considered much his superior. 
He ehminated his predecessor's 
crudeness, and eschewed his multi- 
pUcity of assurances ; while he 
created for his use what is known 
nowadays as Alexandrine verse, 
and indeed the term traces its 
origin to Alexander's invention. 
Apart from its literary worth, the 
Roman d'Alexundre has consider- 
able antiquarian interest ; for 
the matter which the author bor- 
rowed from Lambert was in turn 
gleaned in great measure from 
obscure Byzantine romancers of 
the seventh and eighth centuries ; 
while moreover, Alexandre is a 
discursive poet, and accordingly 
his pages illuminate the manners 
and customs of his own time — 
the age of chivalry and the Cru- 
sades. Many early manuscript 
copies of the poem are extant, the 
Bibliothfeque Nationale alone pos- 
sessing no fewer than twenty, and 
this goes far to prove that the work 
enjoyed exceptional popularity 
throughout the Middle Ages. As 
regards recent criticisms thereof, 
the best is one edited by M. N. 
Michelant for the Literary Society 
of Stuttgart, 1846. Besides the 
foregoing, Alexandre de Bemay 
is credited with a poem entitled 
Athis et Prophylias, but the ascrip- 
tion is not weU supported, resting 
as it does merely on a line in the 
first verse : " Oez del savoir 
Alexandre." 
Literature: Of. Michelant's pre- 



face to his edition of the Roman 
d' Alexandre, and more particularly 
Alexandre de Bernay et les Vers 
Alexandrines, contained in the 
Bulletin de la Societe de VEure, 
1833. 

ALFASEM. King of Terre Poraine, 
and alluded to in the Grand Saint 
Graal as being converted and bap- 
tized by Alain {q.v. ) . He is wound- 
ed through both thighs by an 
angel for sleeping where the Grail 
rests, and later dies. 

ALFRED OF BEVERLEY. An Eng- 
lish author who flourished about 
the beginning of the twelfth cen- 
tury. He made an abridgment 
of Geoffrey of Monmouth's His- 
toria Regum Britannice. He tells 
us that, hearing people talk of 
British kings of whom he knew 
nothing, he became ashamed of his 
ignorance, and with difficulty bor- 
rowed a copy of Geoffrey's new 
history. Delighted -with, it, he 
desired to possess a copy himself. 
But lacking the time to copy it 
or money for materials for a full 
transcript, he made an abridg- 
ment of it in the days of an im- 
posed silence among the clergy — 
probably at a period of contest 
between the two rival archbishops 
who took opposite sides in the 
civil war in Stephen's reign (1141- 
1154). Having curtailed Geof- 
frey's book, he determined to 
continue his work down to Norman 
times, and thus he produced a 
chronicle which ends, Hke Turgot's, 
the last from which he took ma- 
terial, with the year 1129. 

(Cf. Aluredi Beverlacensis An- 
nates, sive Historia de Gestis Regum 
Britannice, Libris x., ed. by Tho- 
mas Heame, Oxford, 1716.) 

ALGARVA, SULTAN OF {vide 
"Plorice and Blanchfleur"), who 
was instrumental in despatching 



ALG 



ALP 



his physician Averroes to the aid 
of Florice, who lay sick. 

ALGOLUFRE. {Vide "Sir Ferum- 
bras . " ) A fierce giant who guarded 
the bridge of Mantribe for Laban. 
He was killed by Eichard of Nor- 
mandy. 

ALL (FitZe "Grettir Saga.") The 
unruly house-carl of Thorbiom 
Oxmain {q.v.). Ill-treated and 
expelled by his master, he took 
service with Atli (q.v.), to whom 
he proved very useftil. 

ALICE. Daughter of Louis le De- 
bonair and Queen Blancheflower, 
in Carlovingian romance, and 
niece of William of Orange (q.v.). 
She was instrumental in bringing 
about a reconciliation between 
her mother and uncle on the 
occasion of a serious quarrel be- 
tween them. (Vide "Blanche- 
flower," and " Arleschans, Battle 
of.") 

ALICE. (Vide " GarintheLorrainer.") 
Daughter of Duke MUo of Gas- 
cony. King Pepin asked her 
father if he desired that his daugh- 
ter should marry one of the 
counts at his court, and gave her 
to Garin. The marriage was a very 
happy one, and she only survived 
her husband a few days. 

ALICE LA BEALE PILGRIM. Daugh- 
ter of Duke Ansirus (q.v.). She 
married Alisander (q.v.), and be- 
came the mother of Bellongerius 
(q.v.). (Vide " Morte d'Arthur.") 

ALISANDER, SIR. Son of Bondwin 
(q.v.). His mother Anglides (q.v.), 
after her husband's death, presents 
him to Arthur. He then resolves 
to avenge himself on Eang Mark 
of Cornwall for his father's death 
(q.v.). He marries Ahce la Beale 
Klgrim (q.v.). According to Ar- 
thurian romance, he is subse- 
quently slain by his father's mur- 
derer. (Vide " Morte d'Arthur.") 



ALISCANS, BATTLE OF, (Vide 
" Arleschans, Battle of.") 

ALONZO OF AGUILAR, DEATH OF. 

This romance tells how Fernando, 
King of Arragon, desires to rid the 
mountains of the Moors, who 
refuse to accept his religion. He 
chooses Alonzo of Aguilar to be 
his champion. With a thousand 
horse Alonzo reaches Nevada, but 
before they can reach the ravine, 
they are detected by the Moors, 
who hurl rocks down upon them. 
Alonzo with a handful more es- 
capes into a field, but is killed from 
afar by bolt and javeHn. The 
Moors then come down from their 
hiding-place, and take Alonzo's 
body and lay it upon the village 
green for all to view. 

ALORY. In Carlovingian romance, 
a Lombard standard-bearer of 
the Frankish army, who, in fight- 
ing against the Saracens in Italy, 
took fright and fled. He was 
stopped by Ogier the Dane (q.v.), 
who reclaimed the day for the 
Franks. 

ALPHAR. King of Aquitaine, father 
of Walthar of Aquitaine (q.v.). 
(Vide "Dietrich of Bern.") 

ALPHART'S TOD. A Bavarian poem 
of the latter part of the thirteenth 
century, connected with the Saga- 
cycle of Dietrich of Bern (q.v.). 
The poem recounts how Heine acts 
as herald from Ermenrich to 
Dietrich, bearing a declaration of 
war. Alphart is sent by Dietrich 
to keep watch for the enemy. 
One of Ermenrich's heroes ap- 
proaches with eighty followers, of 
of whom Alphart slays all but 
eight. Witege, a renegade from 
Dietrich's army, attacks Alphart 
and hes at his mercy, when Heine 
rushes from behind a tree and 
suggests that the contest should 
be discontinued. Alphart refuses. 



ALS 

■with the result that both attack 
him, and he is slain. (Cf. Deut- 
sches Heldevhuch, 1866-78; Lud- 
low, Popular Epics of the Middle 
Ages, 1865.) 

ALSWID. (Fjde"Volsungs.") Son 
of Heimar and Bekkhild (q.v.). 
He advised Sigurd {q.v.) against 
Brynhild {q.v.). 

AMADIS DE GAUL. The origin of 
this romance is a matter of some 
controversy. By most authori- 
ties the Portuguese Vasco Lobeira 
is held to be the author, but at 
all events the Amadis romances 
are genuinely Spanish in their 
colouring, and tinged by a glow 
of Oriental fancy. The story tells 
how Garinter, Bang of Brittany, 
has two daughters, one of whom 
marries Languines, King of Scot- 
land, and the other Ehsena, is 
beloved by Perion, King of Gaul. 
To this latter pair is attributed 
the birth of Amadis, whose mother, 
anxious to conceal his birth, 
launches him in an ark into a 
stream, which carries him to the 
Scottish coast, where he is picked 
up by the knight Gandales. The 
foundling he named " Child of the 
Sea," and a parchment roll, which 
he finds around the babe's neck, 
declared him to be the son of a 
king. There are also tokens which 
in due time will disclose his 
identity. The King and Queen 
of Scotland become interested 
in the chUd, and, unconscious of 
their relationship, order him to be 
reared at their court along with 
the knight's son, Grandalin. 
Meanwhile King Perion had 
openly married Elisena. They 
had another son Galaor, who had 
been stolen away from them by 
a giant named Gandalar, under 
whose instructions he became a 
mirror of chivalry. Perion had 
another son, Florestan. Some 



8 AMA 

time after the three sons perform 
many exploits together, unaware 
of their connection. Perion comes 
on a visit to the court of his 
Scottish brother-in-law, who had 
also a guest, Lisuarte, King of 
Great Britain, with his daughter 
Oriana. To her young Amadis 
acts as page. She succeeds in 
gettiag Perion to knight him, 
and he repays the honour by his 
prowess agaiost Abies, King of 
Ireland. The young knight then 
learns, as the tokens of his cradle 
prove, that he is the son of Perion, 
and accordingly he dubs as knight 
his long-lost brother Galaor. The 
interest of the story now centres 
around the fair Oriana, toward 
whom he remains faithful. But 
she, deceived as to his constancy, 
writes him such cruel letters, 
that at the height of his renown 
he renounces friends, arms, and 
fame, and goes off under the name 
of Beltenebros, the " Fair Forlorn," 
to hve in seclusion upon an island 
known as the Poor Rock, inha- 
bited only by a hermit. The 
difficulty between the lovers is 
eventually overcome ; Lisuarte, 
quarrelliug with the hero, would 
have married his daughter to a 
brother of the emperor, had not 
Amadis intervened by defeating 
him. He carries off Oriana to 
the Firm Island, where both 
achieve the " Arch of Lovers " 
and the " Forbidden Chamber," an 
enterprise to be achieved by only 
the bravest of knights and the 
fa,irest of ladies. (Cf. Nunez de 
Liao, Origem da Lingoa Portu- 
gueza ; Cancionero de Romances, 
Antwerp, 1555 ; Bouterwek, His- 
tory of Spanish Literature. There 
is anEnghsh translation of ^mac^js 
by Southey.) 

AMANGONS. King of Logres. Al- 
luded to in the Conte du Oraal. 



AMA 



AMY 



In the wells and springs of Logres 
dwelt damsels who fed the way- 
farers with meat, pasties, and 
bread. But Amangons wronged 
one, and carried off her golden 
cup, so that never more came 
damsels out of the springs to 
comfort the wanderer. The men 
of King Amangons followed his 
evil example, so that the land grew 
waste. 

AMANT, SIR. A knight of the Court 
of Arthur. He was slain by Mark, 
King of Cornwall (q.v.). {Vide 
"Morted'Arthur.") 

AMERGIN (1). A Milesian bard, son 
of Miled, mentioned in the myths 
of the Irish invasion. When he 
first landed in Ireland with the 
MUesian hosts he sang a strange 
pantheistic lay, probably expres- 
sive of the esoteric and bardic 
philosophy of the Celts. He 
uttered the first judgment which 
was given in Ireland, to the effect 
that the invading Milesians must 
not take the native Danaans by 
surprise, but should withdraw the 
length of nine waves from the 
shore, and then return. As they 
did so, the Danaans raised a mist 
and tempest by their sorceries, 
whereupon the vessels of the 
Milesians were scattered. Amer- 
gin, however, dispelled these by 
means of an incantation, and the 
Milesians were about to land, when 
once more the tempest arose, and 
sank many of their ships. A 
number of the Milesians succeeded 
in landing in the Boyne, and pro- 
ceeded on their path of conquest. 

AMERGIN (2). Father of Conall of 
the Victories (q.v.). 

AMFORTAS. The Fisher King. (Vide 
"Grail, Holy.") By Chrestien he 
is represented on Perceval's first 
meeting with him as angling from 
a boat steered by his companion ; 



he directs Perceval to his castle. 
Perceval is afterwards informed 
that, being wounded and conse- 
quently unable to mount on horse- 
back, fishing is his only solace, 
whence the name appUed to him. 
He is also known as the Keeper 
of the Holy Grail, but how it 
came into his possession is not 
definitely known, though con- 
jecture would point to his being 
the descendant of Joseph. From 
Manessier we learn that Joseph, 
" having converted the land, died 
therein ; " that " the Fisher King 
is of his seed, and that if God wills 
the Grail will never have its 
dweUing elsewhere than with him." 
He is also known as " The Maimed 
King " (q.v.), having been brought 
to this pass by indulging in illicit 
loves. In all the old French works 
of the cycle the soubriquet " rich " 
is apphed to the Fisher. He is a 
character in Wagner's well-known 
Opera " Parsifal." (Vide " Fisher 
King.") 

AMINADAP. One of the Grail- 
Keepers and Kings alluded to as 
such in the OrandSaint Grail (q.v.). 

AMYS AND AMYLION. An English 
romance of great length, believed 
to be of French origin. The tale 
opens with the marriage of two 
knights of Lombardy, who had 
been from infancy fast friends. 
It happened that both their wives 
were on the same day delivered 
of sons, one of whom is chris- 
tened Amys, the other Amylion. 
These children become playmates, 
while as they grow older, they 
develop a striking similarity to 
each other. The Duke of Lom- 
bardy holds a festival, which 
is attended by the two knights, 
who bring with them their sons. 
The duke instantly becomes 
attached to them, requests their 
fathers to leave them in his care, 



AMY 



10 



AMY 



assuring them of his increasing 
attention toward them. To this 
request the fathers agree, and, 
leaving their sons with the duke, 
they repair to their respective 
castles. Shortly afterwards the 
two fathers die. Living in the 
court, and receiving the same 
instruction, the two friends become 
deeply attached to each other. 
Their education having been com- 
pleted, the duke knights them, 
and subsequently appoints Sir 
Amys to the office of butler, and 
Sir Amyhon to that of steward 
of the household. This latter 
appointment, however, awakens 
the envy of the chief steward, a 
man of most malicious character. 
Soon after. Sir Amylion succeeds 
to his father's estates. This 
parting naturally causes much 
sorrow ; and, making two gold 
cups, Amys presents one to his 
friend, while the other he himself 
retains. The steward, none the 
less mahcious, quarrels with Amys. 
The duke's daughter, who by this 
has taken up residence at the 
court, falls madly in love with 
Sir Amys, and as the attachment 
is mutual the steward, who learns 
of it, hastens to inform his master. 
The duke, enraged at what has 
become a scandal, immediately 
summons Sir Amys, who untruth- 
fully declares his innocence. 
Hardly satisfied by this denial, the 
duke fixes a day on which the 
steward and Amys must fight. 
The duchess and Belisante stand 
as pledges for Amys, who, fearing 
defeat, hastens to seek the aid of 
his friend. Sir Amylion gladly 
agrees to fight for the cause of 
Amys, and, exchanging their 
armour, Amyhon proceeds to the 
sceneof battle, while Amys remains 
with his friend's wife. The disguise 
which they both adopt completely 
deceives both Amylion's wife and 



the duke and his steward. Amyhon 
arrives, slays the wicked steward, 
thus winning the duke's favour, 
who offers him Belisante and the 
succession to the kingdom. Sir 
Amyhon returns to his castle, and 
informs Amys of his success. 
Amys then hastens to the duke's 
court, where he is married to 
Behsante. This event is followed 
shortly afterwards by his succes- 
sion to the duke's longdom. Sir 
Amylion's wife meanwhile learns 
from her husband the story of the 
afifair. Her annoyance at her 
husband's deception causes her to 
reject him. He becomes afflicted 
with leprosy as the result of a 
dream which he previously had, 
warning him not to fight in the 
cause of his friend. His repulsive 
appearance, combined with hatred 
for the deception practised upon 
him prompts his wife to banish 
him from the castle. All his 
attendants but one desert him. 
This faithful page, Childe Oneys, 
and Sir Amyhon quit the castle. 
For three years the afihcted knight 
and his page tramp the country. 
Destitute almost beyond recogni- 
tion, the hapless pair one day arrive 
at a city, and hearing of a generous 
duke who resides there, they 
proceed in the direction of the 
castle. The page makes his ap- 
pearance along with the rest, 
before the sergeant, who, sur- 
prised at his powerful build, 
asks to see his companion. This 
done, the youthful Oneys is offered 
a position in the castle ; but, 
refusing to quit his master, he 
leaves the sergeant in a state of 
surprise. The sergeant inune- 
diately reports the incident to his 
master, Amys, who fiiUs the gold 
cup with wine, commanding him 
to carry it to the afflicted man. 
Immediately Amyhon sees the 
cup, he produces his own, which 



AND 



II 



ANG 



he had faithfully preserved, and 
compares the two, to find them 
similar. The sergeant immediately 
relates the incident to Sir Amys, 
who, thinking the si,ck man had 
stolen the cup from his friend 
Sir AmyUon, rushes upon the 
afflicted knight, and would have 
slain him had not the page dis- 
closed his master's name. At this 
Sir Amys leads him into the castle, 
where he is welcomed by Behsante. 
The same night the two friends 
dream of an angel appearing 
before them, and commanding that 
the two children of Sir Amys 
must be sacrificed and Sir Amylion 
anointed with their blood, in 
which manner his leprosy is to be 
cured. The following morning the 
knights relate their dreams, and 
finding them the same, decide that 
the two children must be sacrificed. 
Sir Amys succeeds in decoying his 
wife from the house, while he kills 
his children, with whose blood he 
anoints Sir Amyhon. Behsante 
returns, and is informed of her 
husband's deed, but learning the 
reason of the sacrifice, she is con- 
soled. Amylion is now restored to 
youth and vigour. They return 
to the fatal room, and to their 
astonishment find the two children 
awaking from a refreshing sleep, 
little the worse. Amyhon bids 
farewell to his hospitable comrade, 
and, accompanied by Childe 
Oneys, he arrives in his own land, 
to find his wife on the point of 
taking another husband. He im- 
mediately prevents the union, 
banishes her from his lands, and 
places the faithful Oneys in charge 
over them. He returns to his 
friend, and the two give up the re- 
mainder of their hves to the cause 
of charity. (Of. Elhs, Specimens of 
Early English Metrical Romances.) 

ANDREA. An Italian chronicler and 



ecclesiastic of the ninth century. 
The work by which he is remem- 
bered deals with the history of 
Italy from its shadowy dawn till 
the advent of the Lombards on 
the death of the Emperor Eouis II., 
and is of the nature of pseudo- 
history. The reader will find it in 
the first volume of Antiquitates 
Italice, edited by Muratori, and 
also in the third volume of 
MonumentcB Ecumenim, edited by 
Pertz. Nothing is known about 
.Andrea's life save that for some 
time he was Canon of Bergame. 

ANDVARIS. {Vide "Volsungs.") A 
dwarf in league with Loki (q.v.). 

ANGANTYR, YARL. ( Vide " Frithjof 
Saga.") The chief to whom Helgi 
{q.v.) sent Prithjof to wrest from 
him the tribute due to the sons 
of Bele. But the yarl had been 
the friend of both Thorsten, Frith- 
jof's father, and of King Bele 
to whom he had given presents, 
not tribute. He welcomed the 
son of his friend. 

ANGELICA. {Vide " Orlando Inna- 
morato " and " Orlando Furioso.") 
Daughter to Galaphron, King of 
Cathay. She first loved Orlando, 
then discarded him for Rinaldo. 
She ultimately sailed for India 
with Medoro, whom she married. 

ANGHARADLAWEURAWC. Alluded 
to in the tale of Peredur the Son of 
Evrawc {q.v.) in the Welsh Mahino- 
gion. The name signifies " Ang- 
harad with the Golden Hand," 
probably bestowed upon her to 
typify her Hberahty. Peredur 
pledges his faith that he will not 
speak a word to any Christian 
again until she come to love him. 
After performing various adven- 
tures he meets her again, and she 
declares her love for him, so that 
his self-inflicted penance comes to 
an end. 



ANG 

ANGLIDES, DAME. Wif e of Bondwin 
iq.v.) and mother to Alisander 
(q.v.). She flees from the wrath of 
King Mark, who slays her husband 
in her presence. {Vide " Morte 
d'Arthur.") 

ANGUISH. In Arthurian romance, 
King of Scotland. He was one 
of those who advised Arthur to 
withstand the Romans and refuse 
to pay their tribute, and assisted 
him in his war with them with 
twenty thousand men. 

ANGURVADEL. {Vide "Frithjof 
Saga.") The wonderful golden- 
hilted sword inherited by Frithjof 
(q.v.). It was made by the dwarfs, 
blazed like the Northern Lights, 
and upon its blade were uninteUi- 
gible runes that dulled and paled 
in time of peace and reddened 
fierce and fiery when the battle 
raged. 

ANGUS OG (Angus the Young). In 
Irish romance and mjrth, the son 
of Dagda, supreme Danaan god, 
and father of Maga (q.v.). He was 
the Irish God of Love. His palace 
was reported to be at New Grange, 
on the Boyne. It was said that 
his kisses took the form of four 
beautiful birds that hovered con- 
tinually about his head, and by 
their singing inspired with love 
both youths and maidens. His 
own passion was for a maiden 
whom he had beheld in a dream, 
and who, the Dagda and Boanna 
faihng in their search for her, was 
at last found by Bov the Red (q.v.), 
King of the Munster Danaans, at 
the Lake of the Dragon's Mouth. 
Unable to carry her off from her 
hundred and fSty companions as 
she walked the lake-shores, Angus 
sought the aid of Aihll {q.v.) and 
Maev {q.v.), the King and Queen of 
Connacht. These, however, had 
no authority over Ethal Anubal 



12 ANS^ 



(q.v.), sovereign of the Danaans 
of Connacht, and parent of the 
maiden, whose name was Caer. 
Her father refusing to give her up, 
he was besieged and taken prisoner 
by AihU and the Dagda. But in 
vain, for his daughter had more 
power than he, as she took the 
form of a swan on the first of 
November every alternate year. 
Angus Og, calling to her on the 
first day of her transformation, 
was changed into a swan, and 
plunged into the lake. Then 
together they flew to the Boyne 
palace, luUing all who heard their 
singing into a charmed sleep 
which lasted three days and nights. 

ANLUAN. In Irish romance, son of 
Maga, brother of Ket. He accom- 
panied Maev {q.v.), the Queen of 
Connacht, on a foray into Ulster, 
the famous Cattle Raid of Quelgny 
{q.v.). But after the Ulster peace 
he was slain by ConaU {q.v.), and 
his head produced to Ket on the 
occasion of those warriors' rivalry 
in boasting. 

ANSIRUS, DUKE. "The PUgrim," 
so called for his love of holy 
travel. He was the father of 
Alice, who married Ahsander {q.v.). 
{Vide "Morte d'Arthur.") 

ANSEIS. {Vide "GarintheLorrainer.") 
King of Cologne. He went with 
a huge army to aid Hervi in 
defending Metz from the Saracens. 
Hervi was killed and Anseis took 
possession of Metz, as he had 
driven off the invaders. He after- 
wards lost it, and Garin, son of 
Hervi, won it back. 

ANSWERER. Fragarach, the Irish 
Sea,-god Lir's {q.v.) magical sword, 
which could pierce any armour. 
It was brought by Lugh {q.v.) from 
the " Land of the Living," i.e. the 
" Celtic Otherworld." 



AOI 

AOIFE. The second wife of Lir, a 
god of the Danaans, mentioned in 
the Irish invasion myth, and 
cognate with the British , Celtic 
deity Llyr. lar's first wife had 
borne him four children, and so 
jealous was Aoife of them that 
she took them to the court of 
Eong Bov the Red, and on the 
journey requested her retainers to 
slay them. They refused, and not 
possessing the courage to undertake 
the deed herself, she cast a spell 
upon them, by which they became 
swans. (Fi(Ze "Lir, Children of.") 
I&ig Bov, horrified at her act, 
changed her into a demon of the 
air, and with discordant cries she 
quitted the palace, and was seen 
no more. 

AONBARR. The magical horse of 
Manaanan, son of the Irish Sea- 
god Lir (q.v.), which could gallop 
on land or sea. 

ARA WN, Lord of Annwn (alluded to 
in the Mabinogion tale of Pwyll, 
Prince of Dyfed {q.v.}). He was 
the King of Annwn, or the Celtic 
Otherworld in its later mythological 
aspect of a country adjoining the 
dominions of Pwyll, a Welsh 
princeling, and not as a land across 
the misty ocean. It is doubtful 
if he can be identified with Arawn 
ap Cynvarch, whom the Welsh 
triads celebrate as one of the three 
knights of counsel, or with that 
Arawn mab Dewinoin whose grave 
is alluded to in the verses of 
Beddau. 

ARBRIORES. A Knight alluded to in 
Gautier's portion of the Conte du 
Graal (q.v.) as being overcome by 
Percival and sent to King Arthur. 

ARDAN. Brother of Naisi (q.v.), an 
Ultonian warrior. 

ARD ANATA. Daughter of the King of 
Satyn (q.v.), who, according to the 
romance of Eglamour of Artoys 



13 ARI 

(q.v.), offered herself in marriage to 
Eglamour, but was refused. She 
waited fifteen years in the hope of 
winning her desire ; but in the 
end was married to Degrabell (q.v.). 

ARGASTES. Son of King Helain, and 
master of the black knights men- 
tioned in the Queste del Saint Graal, 
as observed by Lancelot tourneying 
with a band of white knights in a 
meadow by a castle. They cap- 
tured, but afterwards released him. 

ARIDES OF CAVALON. Alluded to 
in Manessier's portion of the 
Conte du Graal, as oppressing a 
damsel of Blanchefleur's (q.v.). 
He was overcome by Perceval, 
who sent him to Arthur's court, 
bidding him announce his arrival 
at Whitsuntide. 

ARIES, the Cowherd, in Arthurian 
romance, foster-father of Sir Tor. 
(Cf . Malory's Morte d' Arthur, Book 
III. chap, iii.) 

ARIOSTO, The author of the cele- 
brated romantic poem Orlando 
Furioso (q.v.), was bom at Reggio 
in Modena, in 1474. His father was 
an officer in the forces of the Duke 
of Ferrara, whose son. Cardinal 
d'Este, chancing to see a number of 
the poetical effusions of the young 
Ariosto, gave him a position in his 
household, and sent him on various 
missions. In 1516, at the age of 
forty -two, Ariosto completed his 
great work, Orlando Furioso, in 
which he drew with a vivid and 
vivacious pen the adventures of 
various knights belonging to the 
court of Charlemagne, and of their 
pagan foes. This wonderful and 
entertaining work cost him no less 
than ten years of arduous labour, 
and was first pubhshed at Ferrara, 
in 1516, in forty and afterwards in 
forty-six cantos. Shortly after- 
wards Ariosto joined the household 
of the Duke of Ferrara, brother of 



ARL 14 

his late master, and in 1522 was 
appointed to the governorship of 
Garfagnana, in the Apennines, a 
brigand-ridden district. During 
the three years he resided there he 
succeeded in reducing the province 
to a semblance of order, his rank 
and reputation assisting him con- 
siderably in this task. On his 
return to Ferrara he resumed Ufe 
as an author and produced several 
theatrical pieces under his own 
direction. He died in 1533. His 
talent for description was of a high 
order, and his invention assisted 
him greatly in the weaving of 
original plots. In character-study 
and sketches he is not so successful, 
but this is compensated for by the 
sweetness and elegance of his 
versification. The harmony of his 
poetry is incomparable, and every 
description is felt to be a picture. 
He never attempted the epic style 
of poetry, and even wrote at times 
Uke an improvisaiore. But this is 
practically concealed by the poHsh 
of his verse, and his irregularities 
partake of the art which conceals 
art. At times he rises to a poig- 
nant pathos which will bear com- 
parison with that of the most 
gifted lyrists. His plays are only 
mediocre, and are entitled La 
Cassaria, I Suppo-^iti, and La 
Galandra. He also wrote sonnets, 
madrigals, and canzoni. (Vide. 
" Orlando Furioso.") 

ARLESCHANS or ALISCANS, BATTLE 
OF. A romance of the WilUam 
of Orange sub-cycle of the Charle- 
magne Saga. It is a sequel to 
Le Covenant de Vivien {q.v.), but 
was probably written by a different 
hand. The Saracens are being 
driven towards the sea by Vivien, 
when the French espy a new 
enemy — the men of Gorant, 
" homed in front and rear." The 
Saracens turn, and take many of 



ARL 

WilHam of Orange's men, and 
Vivien falls wounded under a tree. 
William, endeavouring to escape, 
finds Vivien dying. He gives him 
some consecrated bread, and when 
he passes, carries the lad's body 
off on his horse. The death-scene 
of Vivien is most exquisitely 
touching, and one of the most 
tender and beautiful in romance. 
Attacked, Wilham is forced to put 
down the body, but, returning, he 
watches by it the whole night. 
Disguised in the body-armour of 
a dead Saracen, he returns to 
Orange, where his wife Guibor 
fails to recognize him at first. 
She counsels him to seek succour 
from King Eouis, and dresses with 
her women in armour, to make the 
Saracens beheve that Orange is 
well garrisoned. WiUiam swears 
that he will not change his clothes 
until he kisses his lady again. He 
reaches the French Court, where 
he is jeered at because of his rough 
attire. He learns that his sister 
Blanchflower, the queen, is about 
to be crowned. Louis accords him 
an interview, and in sheer terror 
of him grants his request to be 
suppUed with an army. With 
this force and with Reuouart, the 
gigantic brother of his wife Guibor, 
he returns, and inflicts a crushing 
defeat upon the Saracens. The 
rest of the romance is taken up 
with the recital of the deeds of 
Reuouart, who, stolen from his 
parents in early youth, was until 
this time a scuUion in the king's 
kitchen. He marries Alice, the 
King's daughter, and his subse- 
quent adventures are detailed in 
The Battle of Loquifer {q.v.). 

The romance of Arlesckans un- 
doubtedly rests upon historical 
tradition. M. L. Gautier holds 
that it represents the welding 
together of the defeat of William 
of Aquitaine by the Saracens at 



ART 

Villedaigne in 793, and the defeat 
of the Saracens by William I. of 
Provence in 976. 

Literature : Aliscans, Eecueil des 
Anciens Poetes de la France, vol. x. 
1875 ; critical ed. by E. Wein- 
beck, 1903. An early MS. of 
Arleschans was discovered in 
England in 1904. It was printed 
under the title La Cancun de 
Willame (see M. Paul Meyer's 
articles in Romania, vols, xxxii. 
xxxiv.). Wolfram von Eschen- 
bach translated Arleschans under 
the title of Willehalm (see the 
complete edition of his works by 
Lochmann, 5th edition). 

ARTHUR, KING. Son of Uther Pen- 
dragon {q.v.). King of England, 
and Igraine {q.v.), wife of Gorlois, 
a Lord of Cornwall, who subse- 
quently married Uther. Given 
by Merlin after his birth to Sir 
Ector, he was reared by him, and 
on Uther's demise established his 
right to the Kingship by drawing 
an enchanted sword from a block 
of stone. The circumstances of 
his Mfe will be found detailed at 
length in the article on the Morte 
d' Arthur. It is probable that 
Arthur was a sixth-century British 
leader or chieftain who bore the 
not very common name of a 
British deity. The deeds of the 
god probably became confounded 
with those of the hero, and the 
Historia Regum BrittanicB {q.v.) 
for ever fixed the type of the 
romance and rendered the figure 
of Arthur human, whereas in 
earher Celtic times it undoubtedly 
loomed through a mythological 
mist. Indeed its mythologic origin 
is patent to the student in the 
circumstances which surround the 
story. Arthur's career begins in 
darkness and mystery. He pos- 
sesses a magic weapon (Excali- 
bur). He begets a son (Mordred) 



15 ART 

upon his sister unwitting of the 
relationship. In a word, his myth 
parallels the circumstances of a 
hxmdred others. All the details 
which occur in the career of a 
great mythological hero are repre- 
sented in his story. He is prob- 
ably a British leader on whose 
memory were grafted tales relating 
to an ancient British solar deity, 
his Round Table possibly repre- 
sents the sun itself, and his knights 
the host which accompanies the 
luminary. 

(See "Morte d'Arthur," "Ex- 
calibur," and the titles of the 
various Arthurian romances; " His- 
toria Britonum," " Historia Regum 
Brittam8e,"and especially " Arthu- 
rian Romance," as to his histori- 
city. For Literature on the subject, 
see that at end of the above 
articles.) 

ARTHURIAN ROMANCE, RISE AND 
EVOLUTION OF. The historicity of 
Arthur, his existence as a veritable 
personage, is a much-debated point. 
There are several theories as to the 
manner in which his myth grew 
into prominence. One is that he 
was the Gomes Brittanice or Pro- 
tector of the Romano-Britons on 
the withdrawal of the Roman 
forces from the island. Another 
would derive him from a Celtic 
deity, Arturus or Actus, and would 
make the alleged historical matter 
concerning him part of a mytho- 
logical process. It is probable 
that the truth lies between these 
extremes ; that the figure of the 
Arthur of romance was derived 
from that of the sixth-century 
British commander who bore the 
name of the god, and around 
whom, as a hero of considerable 
fame in his day, the attributes of 
the deity clustered and clung. 
The first historical notice we have 
of Arthur is in the Historia 



ART 



i6 



ART 



Britonum, ascribed to Nennius 
(c. 800). In its pages Arthur is 
alluded to as " Emperor " of 
Britain, and his battles with the 
Saxon invaders are described. The 
exact region over which he held 
sway is variously debated, Wales, 
the South of Scotland and even 
Brittany being claimed by different 
authorities, and natural objects 
bearing his name being encoun- 
tered over the length and breadth 
of Britain. The lack of direct 
allusion to Arthur in Bede and 
The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle is 
scarcely an argument in favour of 
his non-existence, as some authori- 
ties appear to think. The real 
Arthur may have been a leader of 
importance, as his deeds are fre- 
quently alluded to in Welsh legen- 
dary and semi-mythical literature, 
and it is not surprising that he is 
unnoticed in the very scanty 
Saxon Uterature of the three or 
four centuries which followed his 
death. But it is almost certain 
that the circumstance that he was 
of one name with a native deity 
assisted to raise him to a pedestal 
of heroship in the popular imagina- 
tion. It is not until the twelfth 
century that we have any definite 
evidence that his story had 
awakened interest in the minds of 
men. Whatever the amount of 
enthusiasm that accrued to it 
between the fifth and twelfth 
centuries, there is no mistaking 
the note of passionate admiration 
struck by its chroniclers and 
perusers of the latter era. The 
circumstances of Arthur's Ufe were 
on all men's Ups, and were matter 
of general discussion. His story 
appealed to the martial and roman- 
tic spirit of the time, and probably 
had a vogue in Britain greater 
and more extended than that of 
any literary subject-matter either 
before or since. The tale was 



probably in an inchoate con- 
dition, hawked about the country 
by jongleurs and minstrels when 
it was seized upon by Geoffrey 
of Monmouth, who for ever placed 
upon it that veritable stamp of 
chivalric romance which was to 
be so often imitated but seldom 
surpassed, and which fixed it 
for aU time as a world-story of 
the first magnitude. Geoffrey 
maintained that he had received 
the matter of his Historia Return 
BrittanicB from a Breton or Welsh 
source. This is generally doubted, 
without much show of reason. 
Some such source must undoubt- 
edly have existed behind his 
pseudo-history, as he certainly did 
not invent its basis, however much 
he may have elaborated it. A 
host of continuators, imitators, 
and authors of tales which threw 
light upon the lesser known por- 
tions of Arthurian story pursued 
the subject. And the Arthuriad 
became practically the only theme 
of song and fiction in England 
and France, and ia great measure 
in Italy and Germany for at least 
a century and a half. 

That the original matter of 
Arthurian romance emanated from 
Wales or Brittany is certain. It 
arose from Celtic myth, and is 
closely interwoven with the death- 
less tales of the Cymric deities. 
But it is more probable that the 
impulses which went to the making 
of Enghsh Arthurian romance 
came rather from Brittany than 
from Wales. Geoffrey of Mon- 
mouth states that he merely 
translated from " a certain most 
ancient book in the British Lan- 
guage," which " Walter Arch- 
deacon of Oxford, brought hither 
from Brittany," and it is merely 
ludicrous to discount the existence 
of such a volume of lore or some 
traditional equivalent on the 



ART 



17 



ground that it is not now extant, 
and to allude to this source of the 
Historia JRegum BrittanicB as " one 
of the great ruses of English 
Literary History." 

Regarding the evolution of 
Arthurian Romance from a chrono- 
logical standpoint and dating a 
review of such from the probable 
period of the historical Arthur's 
death (which occurred in the first 
third of the sixth century), we are 
justified in concluding that heroic 
poems commemorating the struggle 
between Briton and Saxon were 
in existence by the beginning of 
the seventh century. The deve- 
lopment of the legend may be 
observed in Nennius' History of the 
£ntoMS, which dates from the eighth 
or ninth century. By 1050 or 
thereabouts the settlement of Nor- 
mandy had in aU probabUity made 
the Arthurian stories known to the 
Normans by reason of their close 
contact with Brittany, and these 
they carried with them to their 
colonies in Italy and Sicily. The 
last quarter of the eleventh century 
witnessed considerable hterary 
activity in Wales, when a renais- 
sance of national hterature was 
marked chiefly by the popularity 
of the work of the sixth-century 
bards, of which several of the 
Mabinogi tales are good examples. 
Geoffrey's works reflected the out- 
burst in England, and he was 
followed by Wace, who translated 
his history into French, Marie de 
Prance (who wTote c. 1150-1165), 
Beroul (c. 1150), and Thomas 
(c. 1170), the last two of whom 
wrote on the subject of Tristan 
(q.v.). Then Chretien de Troyes 
(g-.i;.) followed with Erec, Cliges and 
Le Chevalier de Charette, and finally 
the Conte du Graal (1182), and the 
prose romances such as the Lance- 
lot. In this subject he had been 
preceded by Guyot (q.v.). We 



ARU 

observe in the titles of the works 
alluded to that two new subjects 
have by this time been added to 
the Arthurian story, the sub-cycle 
of Tristan, (q.v.) and the Grail 
story {q.v.). Later Arthurian ro- 
mantic effort includes the spread 
of the purely French romances of 
the cycle into Wales, giving rise 
to new Welsh versions, and the 
vogue of Malory's compilation. 
It would scarcely be untrue to say 
that the evolution of the Arthurian 
romances had ceased, with the 
echoes of the deathless works of 
Tennyson, Swinburne and many 
other nineteenth-century poets 
stiU ringing in the ears of the 
present generation. 

{Vide also articles on Arthurian 
Romance, for example " Grail," 
" Tristram," the articles on the 
several romances themselves, and 
" Chretien de Troies," " Geoffrey 
of Monmouth," "Walter Map," 
" Lancelot," " Gawain," etc., etc.) 

Literature : Nennius, Historia 
Britonum ; Geoffrey of Monmouth, 
Historia Begum Brittanice ; Pro- 
fessor A. Brown, The Bound Table 
before Wace, " Harvard Studies and 
Notes," vol. viii. ; Dr. Lewis Mott, 
The Bound Ta6Ze,Mod.Lang. Assoc, 
of America, xx. 2 ; Skene, Four 
Ancient Books of Wales, Edinburgh, 
1868 ; Fletcher, Arthurian Matter 
in the Chronicles, " Harvard Studies 
and Notes," 1906 ; Alfred Nutt, 
Celtic and Mediaeval Bomance ; Sir 
John Rhys, The Arthurian Legend, 
1891 ; Jessie P. Weston, King 
Arthur and his Knights (" Popular 
Studies in Mythology and Folk- 
lore "). For a good resume of the 
subject see W. Lewis Jones's 
King Arthur in History and Legend 
(" Cambridge Manuals of Science 
and Literature "). 

ARUNDEL. A kingdom ruled over 
by King Jovelin. Tristram {q.v.) 





ASA 



l8 



ATH 



during his wanderings in that 
land assisted Jovelin to rid it 
of robbers and once more made 
the throne secure. {Vide " Morte 
d'Arthur.") 

ASAL, King of the Golden PUlars, 
in Irish Celtic Myth. He possessed 
seven swine which might be killed 
and eaten every night, yet which 
were found alive every morning. 
(F«cZe " Turenn, Sons of.") 

ASCAPARD. { Vide " Bevis of Hamp- 
ton.") A giant whose Hfe was 
spared by Bevis at the request of 
Josyan (q.v.). He became their 
page and served them faithfully 
till Bevis gave up his estates, when 
Ascapard went back to his pagan 
master. Saber killed him when he 
rescued Josyan. 

ASDIS. {Vide " Grettir Saga.") 
Mother of Grettir ; wife of Asmund. 

ASENATH. A French Medieval 
romance which relates how Ase- 
nath, the daughter of Poti-pherah, 
Chief Priest of Egypt, was scornful 
of men, and immured herself in 
a high tower to be without their 
reach. Joseph, being sent by 
Pharaoh to gather com throughout 
Egypt in face of famine, sent for 
Poti-pherah, who desired to give 
him Asenath to wife. But Ase- 
nath was sore vexed, and declared 
that only the son of a King should 
wed her. But she espied Joseph 
from her tower and repented of her 
words. Joseph inquired what 
woman had looked from the tower, 
and was told by Poti-pherah that 
it was his daughter. Joseph, 
hating woman as much as Asenath 
disliked men, announced that he 
would be "as a brother to her." 
But he refused to kiss her because 
of her idolatry to the gods of 
Egypt. At this she sought her 
chamber, and renounced the gods. 
When Joseph departed Asenath 



grieved mightily, but an angel 
appeared to her, and announced 
that her name was written in the 
Book of life, and that she should 
become Joseph's wife. She sup- 
phed the angel with bread, but 
when he requested honey she 
could not supply it, so he brought 
it miraculously from Paradise. The 
angel further blessed her seven 
handmaidens, and, Joseph arriving, 
Asenath was given him to wife. 

ASKELDART. {Vide " Guy of War- 
wick.") A Saracen knight. 

ASMUND. {Vide "Grettir Saga.") 
Father of Grettir ; husband of 
Asdis. 

ASPERAUNT. {Vide "Sir Otuel.") 
A favourite adviser of King Garsie, 
who consulted him when he found 
himself in danger from the French 
army as to how he could punish 
Otuel and defeat the French. 
Asperaunt thought no headway 
could be made so long as Bioland 
and Ohvier were ahve and Otuel 
still held his famous sword, 
Corrouge. 

ASTOLPHO. {Vide " Orlando Inna- 
morato " and " Orlando Furioso.") 
Son of Otho, King of England. 
He was transformed into a myrtle 
by Alcina . He regained his former 
shape through Melissa, then 
travelled to LogistiUa. He took 
Cahgorant the giant prisoner in 
his own net. He cured Orlando 
of his madness. 

ATHELSTAN. A pseudo-history in 
metre, of the reign of that king. 
As the son of Edward the Elder, 
Alfred's successor, he ascended 
the throne of England in the year 
925. He was the first monarch 
who exercised actual kingly power 
over all the divisions of the Hept- 
archy. According to tradition, 
he was not without opponents to 



ATH 



19 



the crown of England ; these as- 
pirants he is said to have cleared 
out of his way by successively 
bribing his cup-bearer, a per- 
sonage of importance, to remove 
them. Alfred, who coveted the 
throne, accused Athelstan of mur- 
dering his brother, Prince Ethel- 
wald ; but the mob to whom he 
appealed assaulted him, dragged 
his mutilated body through the 
lanes, and cried, " Up with Athel- 
stan 1 " His greatest enemy was 
Sigrig the Dane, who married 
Eadritha, the king's sister. By 
this union Sigrig, who was king 
over Northumbria, promised to 
renounce the worship of Odin and 
form an alliance of peace with 
his brother-in-law. Such a treaty 
he never fulfilled. The spirit of his 
god reclaimed his soul, and he 
perished through fear. The fires 
of Odin consumed him, and when 
his warriors entered his chamber 
the final flames of the fatal fire 
passed away. With Sigrig dead, 
Athelstan united Northumbria to 
England. Anlaf, son of Sigrig, 
opposed Athelstan. He visited 
York, while his brother Gunth- 
forth journeyed to the court of 
the Scottish king Constance. As 
a result of their visits, the Scots 
and Welsh, who were, (according 
to this romantic history), but 
tributary nations to Athelstan, 
joined Anlaf and his Irish hosts. 
The king, who had, meanwhile, 
strengthened himself by forming 
various alliances with foreign 
princes, prepared for battle. The 
rival armies met at Brunnanburh 
(938 A.D.), where Anlat and his 
alhes were routed. The son of 
Sigrig fled from the field, leaving 
no less than five kings dead. The 
kingdom prospered under Athel- 
stan's rule ; and, after laying the 
foundations of England's mari- 
time greatness, he retired to Glou- 



AUB 

cester, where he died in 941. At 
the express wish of the dying 
monarch, Edmund, his brother, 
assuihed the kingship of the rising 
nation. 

ATLI (1). {Vide "Volsungs, Lay of 
the.") A monarch who married 
Gudrun {q.v.). His thirst for gold 
led him to war against the sons of 
Giuki, whom he took prisoners. 
He slew Helge and cast Gunnar 
into a pit of vipers. He was slain 
in revenge by Gudrun and Niblung. 
ATLI (2), (See "Erithjof Saga.") 
The fiercest of Yarl Angantyr's 
vikings. Desiring to prove the 
reputed quahties of Frithjof's 
magic sword, Angurvadel, he en- 
gaged that hero in combat. Frith- 
jof's blade cut his sword in twain, 
but his opponent thought him too 
brave to die, and became his friend. 

ATLI (3). (See " Grettir Saga.") 
Eldest son of Asmund and brother 
of Grettir. Mild and peace-loving, 
he was treacherously slain by 
Thorbiom Oxmain {q.v.), who thus 
avenged the death of his brother 
Thorbiom the Tardy {q.v.) at the 
hands of Grettir. 

ATTILAorETZEL. King of the Huns, 
and ally of Dietrich of Bern {q.v.). 

AUBRY. (Vide " Garin the Eorrai- 
ner.") Son of Duke of Burgundy, 
nephew of the Lorrainers. He 
was one of the party who went to 
help King Thierry of Savoy. He 
was besieged in Dijon by Bernard, 
but Bego reheved him. When 
Bego was wounded and unable to 
fight, he sent out Aubry in his 
place. He hated Bernard, but 
was overthrown by him in the 
attack on Naisil. He and Garin 
went to the assistance of Huo in 
a fierce fight with the Bordelais, 
He fought bravely on the side of 
the Lorrainers in time of battle, 
and gave good advice to them on 
several occasions. 



AUG 



20 



AUC 



AUCASSIN AND NICOLETE. A French 
cantefable or romance partly in 
prose, partly in verse, dating from 
the thirteenth century, and one 
of the most beautiful examples 
of Mediaeval literature. It has 
evoked the enthusiasm of some of 
the best English writers of the last 
half century, notably Swinburne, 
Pater, and Lang, and it is admitted 
by hterary critics of eminence to 
possess elements of originaUty and 
intrinsic lovehness which make 
it at once one of the most intense 
and deUcately fragrant love stories 
of the Middle Ages. In every 
page we catch the far-off, dreamy 
beauty which characterizes the 
literary craftsmanship of theperiod, 
and, if the audacity, extravagance, 
and even puerihty of certain pas- 
sages force us to smile, we are in 
turning the next page rapt by the 
wonderfully human descriptions 
of passion and the intricate work- 
manship in words which we en- 
counter. By some critics an 
Eastern origin has been ascribed 
to Aucassin and Nicolete. The 
name, Aucassin, it is insisted, is 
merely the Moorish Al Cassim, 
and the " Saracen " birth of 
Nicolete is adduced as a further 
proof of the Oriental genesis of 
the tale. - It relates how Aucassin, 
a noble youth, falls in love with 
Nicolete, a Saracen captive maid. 
Count Garin of Beaucaire, en- 
raged at his son's choice, promises 
him the noblest lady in the land 
if he will break off the attachment. 
This Aucassin refuses to do ; 
whereupon Count Garin commands 
Nicolete's guardian to send her 
away, ere evil befaU her. So she 
is imprisoned in an upper chamber 
of her guardian's palace. While 
Aucassin seeks the solitude of his 
chamber and laments the loss of 
Nicolete, Count Bougars of Valence, 
who had a family feud against 



Garin, attempts to storm the 
castle. Garin seeks his son, up- 
braids him for his craven indiffer- 
ence to their danger, and begs 
him to take his place in the fight, 
for his presence will instil courage 
into the people. Aucassin at first 
refuses, but for the sake of a pro- 
mised interview with his beloved, 
he dons his armour and saUies 
forth. But Aucassin, obsessed 
with the thought of Nicolete, 
allows himself to be taken prisoner. 
Awaking from his day-dxeam as 
the soldiers are preparing to hang 
him, he draws his sword, and 
makes a wild dash for freedom. 
Winning clear of the melee, he 
rides swiftly on, and encounters 
Count Bougars of Valence. Taking 
him prisoner, he dehvers him to 
his father, and demands the fulfil- 
ment of their bargain — ^his inter- 
view with Nicolete. Count Garin, 
thinking the danger over, refuses, 
whereupon Aucassiu extracts a 
promise from his prisoner, that as 
long as he lived he would harry 
and make war on the Count of 
Beaucaire. Leading his prisoner 
safely out of the castle precincts, 
he sets him free. Aucassin is 
thrown into prison again, and one 
is left to wonder how he could 
not make his own escape while 
freeing the Count of Bougars. 
Meanwhile Nicolete escapes from 
her tower, and hides in the woods, 
where she makes herself a bower 
of leaves and branches. The cry 
is raised that she is lost, or that 
Count Garin has killed her. Au- 
cassin is set free in honour of a 
great feast given by the Count, 
to induce his son to become 
enamoured of some other fair 
lady. But he shps away, and 
rides in search of Nicolete. Com- 
ing upon the bower in the woods, 
he dismounts, and in doing so, 
stumbles, and dislocates his shoul- 



AUC 



21 



der. Crawling in, he decides to 
spend the night, and lies bewailing 
the loss of his Nicolete. The 
girl overhearing him, enters, and 
they embrace each other. Dis- 
covering his hurt, she deftly sets 
the bone, and bandages his arm. 
Aucassin then mounts his horse, 
and placing Nicolete in front, 
they set off in the direction of the 
sea. Boarding a ship with some 
merchants, they are driven by a 
mighty storm to a far country. 
They dwell for some time at the 
mad court of Torelore, the en- 
vironment of which mirrors all that 
is grotesque in the period of the 
tale. The castle of Torelore is 
seized by the Saracens, who bear 
the lovers off to captivity. Au- 
cassin and Nicolete are placed in 
different ships. A storm arises, 
and the vessels are scattered. 
Aucassin is driven ashore near 
the Castle of Beaucaire, where 
he learns that his father and 
mother are dead and that he is the 
heir. Nicolete is carried to Car- 
thage, where she is proved to be 
the daughter of the king of that 
city. On the eve of her marriage 
with a rich Paynim monarch, 
she stains her face, and disguises 
herself as a minstrel. Taking her 
viol, she manages to get a passage 
in a ship bound for Provence. 
Arrived there, she wanders about 
the country playing her viol, till 
she comes to the castle of Beau- 
caire, where she discovers herself 
to Aucassin, and the romance ends 
. with their marriage. 

The tale has been frequently 
edited, the best editions being 
that of the late Mr. Andrew Lang 
(1887), and Mr. BourdiUon (1887). 
A facsimile of the original and 
only MS. was also edited by Mr. 
Bourdillon, in 1896. 

AUCHINLECK MS. A manuscript 



AUC 

containing the only copy of the 
famous romance. Sir Tristrem, 
doubtfully attributed to Thomas 
the Rymour {q.v.). It was dis- 
covered in the Advocates' Library 
at Edinburgh, by Ritson, the 
celebrated critic of antique poetry, 
and forms part of a vellum manu- 
script volume presented to the 
hbrary in 1744 by Alexander 
Boswell of Auchinleck, father of 
James BosweU, Johnson's bio- 
grapher. It contains upwards of 
forty poems and fragments, which 
are treated by Sir W. Scott in 
his appendix to Sir Tristrem. 
The volume has been considerably 
mutilated by the excision of the 
illuminated initials, and the latter 
part of the romance of Sir Tristrem 
is lost. This work is connected 
with the name of Thomas Rymour 
because of the circumstance that 
Robert Manning, an English monk, 
a native of Malton, in Yorkshire, 
who translated into EngHsh verse 
the Chronicle of England by Peter 
Langtoft, and who dwelt at the 
Priory of Brunne from which he 
took the territorial nomenclature 
of Robert de Brunne, refers to 
Thomas as the author of the 
Tristrem, as foUows : — 

" I see in song in sedgejmg tale 
Of Erceldoun and of Kendale 
Non tham says as thai tham wroght. 
And in ther saying it semes noght 
That may thou here in Sir Tristrem ; 
Ouer gestes it has the 'steem, 
Ouer all that is or was, 
If men it said as made Thomas ; 
Bot I here it no man so say. 
That of som oopple som is away." 

There is considerable diversity of 
opinion as to the exact meaning 
of these lines. But it may be 
regarded as establishing the fact 
that Brunne was famihar with a 
poem of Sir Tristrem that was 
held in universal esteem in his 
day, and that its author's name 
was Thomas. He also states that 



AVE 



22 



AWN 



he heard no man say it as Thomas 
made it, which implies that he 
must either have heard Thomas 
recite it or have seen the original 
MS. It will be observed that he 
couples the names of Erceldoun 
and Kendale. Warton thinks 
that these are the names of 
romances, and says he can find 
no traces of the latter in ancient 
British poetry. Nor can Ritson 
find any trace of Kendale, but 
Sir JFrederick Madden, who regards 
the authorship of Thomas Ry- 
mour as fictitious, states that a 
passage in the unedited portion 
of De Brunne shows that Kendale's 
Christian name was also Thomas, 
and that he wrote a romance about 
Playn, the brother of the giant 
Skardyng the lord of Scarborough 
Castle. He does not give the 
passage, which is unfortunate, 
and he does not enumerate his 
reasons for the beUef that the 
Tristrem was not the work of a 
native of Scotland. Scott had 
deemed that theTmiremof Thomas 
the Rymour was famous and 
popular on the continent. But 
he forgot or was unaware that 
there was such a poet as Thomas 
of Brittany. The first two lines 
of the poem read : 

" I was at 
With Thomas spak Y thare." 

Scott thought the missing word 
in the first line is " Ercildoun," 
and it suits both the metre and 
the rhyme, as the third Une ends 
in the word " roune." Further, 
the first line, used as a "catch- 
line " at the bottom of the pre- 
ceding page, is conclusive on the 
point, as it includes the word 
" Ercildoune." For a summary 
of the Tristrem romance, vide one 
of the entries under " Tristrem." 

AVERROES. (Vide " Florice and 
Blanchfleur.") Physician to the 



Sultan of Algarva, who was com- 
manded by his imperial master 
to hasten to the sick-bed of Florice. 
By his skill his patient was cured 
of his malady. 

AVILION. ( Vide " Morte d'Arthur.") 
A mystic land to where the soul 
of King Arthur {q.v.), is wafted 
by maidens after his death, at 
the hands of Mordred (q.v.). Here 
he is healed, and here he rests 
for evermore. It is probably a 
Mediffival form of the Celtic 
Otherworld across the sea. 

AVOWING OF ARTHUR. This early 
English romance relates an inci- 
dent which occurred near Carlisle. 
King Arthur is hunting with Sir 
Gawain, Sir Kay and Sir Baldwin, 
and all four undertake separate 
vows. Arthur is to capture single- 
handed a ferocious bear ; Sir Kay 
to fight all who oppose him. The 
king is successfiJ, but Sir Kay 
falls before a knight who is carry- 
ing off a beautiful maiden. The 
victor, however, is afterwards 
overcome in a fight with Gawain, 
and then ensues a significant 
contrast in the matter of beha- 
viour. Sir Kay sustains his earher 
reputation by cruelly taunting 
the beaten knight ; while Sir 
Gawain, on the other hand, mind- 
ful of the claims of chivalry, is 
studiously kind and considerate 
towards his fallen foe. 

AWNTYRS OF ARTHURE AT THE 
TERN WATHELYN, THE. An 

Arthurian poem, probably of the 
fourteenth century, but possibly 
of the fifteenth, written in stanzas 
of thirteen fines each, rhymed in 
a very intricate manner, and fnll 
of the alliteration common to 
the metrical romances of the 
period. It is difficult to say 
whether it should be claimed by 
Scotland or the North of England, 



AWN 



23 



AWN 



and the dialect forms no accurate 
solution to this question, for 
throughout the Middle Ages there 
was Uttle difference between the 
speech of the southern Scots and 
that of their neighbours across 
the border. The poem is usually 
considered Scottish, however, but 
the authorship is a debated point ; 
and the only hght thereon con- 
sists in the fact that, in its style 
throughout, the Awntyrs bears 
an exceedingly close resemblance 
to another Arthurian poem, Oolo- 
gras and Oawane, attributed some- 
times to Huchown of the Awle 
Ryle and sometimes to one Clerk 
of Tranent. Andrew of Wynton 
ascribes it to the former, saying 
in his Orygynale Oronykil of Scot- 
land that Huchown 

" Made the gret Gest of Arthure 
And the Awntyrs of Gawane ; " 

but WiUiam Dunbar, on the other 
hand, in his Lament for the Ma- 
karis, speaks of 

" Clerk of Tranent eik he has tane 
That made the anteris of Sir Gawane." 

Now Wynton lived fuUy a centuiy 
before Dunbar, and thus his testi- 
mony is the more valuable of the 
two. Accordingly, then, Gologras 
and Gawane may reasonably be 
accepted as Huchown's work, and 
from this it may be deduced that 
he too wrote the Awntyrs. 

The scene of the poem is laid 
in the wilds of Cumberland, 
Arthur having estabhshed his 
Court at CarKsle ; and the opening 
stanzas tell how the king, along 
with his queen Guinevere — or 
Geyenour as the poet calls her — 
go to hunt in the forest of Ingle- 
wood accompanied by their fav- 
ourite knight. Sir Gawane. He 
and the queen, while at a distance 
from the rest of the party, are 



overtaken by darkness, and much 
to their surprise the ghost of the 
queen's mother appears to them. 
Speaking of the torments to which 
it had been subjected, the appari- 
tion implores that prayers be 
offered up for its soul ; and the 
queen and Sir Gawane promise 
to do this, and thereafter they 
return to Carlisle. Here, in the 
course of the evening, a knight 
called Sir Galaron comes upon 
the scene, and, claiming from the 
king certain lands which the latter 
had wrested from him, he offers 
to prove his rights by fighting any 
one of Arthur's henchmen in the 
hsts. Sir Gawane is appointed to 
confront him on the following day, 
and in the fight which ensues 
both men are wounded. Sir Galaron 
getting back his territory in con- 
sequence, and at the same time 
being appointed a knight of the 
Round Table as a mark of the 
king's admiration for his prowess. 
Nor is the staunch Sir Gawane for- 
gotten, his royal master granting 
him an estate in Wales ; while the 
queen, remembering the injunc- 
tions of the ghost, orders mil- 
lions of masses to be sung on its 
behalf. 

The Awntyrs possesses consider- 
able literary merit, the super- 
natural element therein being 
well handled, and the tourney 
described vividly. There are 
several Mediaeval manuscript 
copies of the poem, and of these 
the most important are one 
in the Bodleian Library, and 
one in the Cathedral Library, 
Lincoln. 

Literature : In Scottish Poems 
reprinted from Scarce Editions, 
edited by John Pinkerton (1792), 
the Awntyrs is given from the 
Bodleian manuscript under the 
title of Sir Gawane and Sir Gal- 
loran of Galloway; while the 



BAG 24 

Lincoln version, which differs 
shghtly from the other, is contained 
in Select Remains of the Ancient 
Popular and Romance Poetry of 



BAL 

Scotland, edited by David Laing 
(1822). ( Vide also articles " Clerk 
of Tranent," " Gologras and Ga- 
wane," and " Huchown.") 



B 



BAGDEMAGUS, SIR. Son of King 
PeUinore, and a knight of the 
court of Arthur. {Vide "Moxte 
d'Arthur.") 

BAGOMMEDES. A knight alluded 
to in Gautier's portion of the 
Conte du Graal as being discovered 
by Perceval hanging by his feet 
from a tree, and released by him. 
He had been thus secured by Kay, 
and upon his return to Arthur's 
court challenged Kay, and was 
only hindered by Arthur from 
slaying him. 

BALAN. (Ficie "Morte d'Arthur.") 

BALDOLF OF AQUILENT, ( Vide " Sir 
Otuel.") One of Garsie's gene- 
rals ; fought against the Chris- 
tians. 

BALDWIN, SIR, ( Vide " Sir Otuel.") 
One of Charlemagne's knights 
who attended to the dying needs 
of Roland at Roncesvalles. 

BALDWIN THE FLEMING. {Vide 
" Garin the Lorrainer.") Count 
of Flanders. He was persuaded 
by Droo of Amiens to ask his 
sister to marry Promont, not 
knowing he had been defeated 
by Garin and had lost Soissons 
and other lands. On learning 
the truth he set out with a large 
army to attack Cambrai, the 
property of Huo, nephew of Garin. 
When the king summoned Fro- 
mont to answer for his misdeeds, 
he also threatened Baldwin with 
the loss of Flanders. The royal- 
ists were successful. Afterwards 



at the affray at the king's marriage 
Baldwin was taken prisoner. He 
fought at the great fight between 
Fromondin and Rigaut, and was 
killed by Bego. 

BALIGAND. {Vide " Siv Otnel.") A 
Saracen king who bribed Ganelon, 
ambassador of Charlemagne, to 
lead the French troops into the 
Forest of Roncesvalles. Slain at 
Saragossa by Turpin. 

BALIN. An Arthurian knight, whose 
adventures are given at length in 
Book II. of the Morte d'Arthur 
{q.v.). 

BALOR. A mighty King of the 
Fomorians, mentioned in the Irish 
invasion myths. He was gene- 
rally alluded to as " Balor of the 
Evil Eye," because if he cast his 
glance in anger upon any one, 
that person was instantly de- 
stroyed. When the Danaans {q.v.) 
refused to continue their tribute 
to the Fomorians {q.v.), Balor 
gave instructions to his captains 
to anchor their vessels to the 
island of Ireland, and to tow it 
into the gloomy Fomorian Sea, 
of which he was the lord. In the 
battle which ensued with the 
Danaans, Balor, who was now 
aged, had his drooping eyeUd 
raised by means of ropes and 
puUeys, and cast his baleful glance 
on Nuada, and other Danaan 
chiefs, who were smitten down 
by it. But Lugh, the sun-god 
{q.v.), his grandson, stole near him 
as the eyelid drooped momentarily 



BAN 

and hurled at him a great stone, 
which sunk through eye and brain 
and slew him. 

BAN, KING. In Arthurian legend, an 
ally, with King Bors, of Arthur. 
They assisted him against the 
league of the eleven kings, and are 
always mentioned as in close 
entente with him. Ban was King 
of Benwick, Bors of Gaul. 

BANBA. In Irish romance, wife 
of McCuiU, a Danaan king. 

BANK, ELAINE DE. Daughter of Sir 
Bernard of Astolat. She falls 
madly in love with Sir Lancelot 
{q.v.), but failing to win his heart 
she perishes. {Vide " Morte 
d'Arthur.") 

BARBOUR, JOHN. A Scottish poet 
of the fourteenth century, remem- 
bered chiefly by The Bruce, an 
epic poem of some fourteen thou- 
sand octosyllabic lines, rhymed 
in pairs, which recounts the deeds 
of the hero of Bannockbum, 
King Robert the Bruce. The 
exact date of Barbour's birth is 
uncertain, but it is commonly 
supposed to have been about 
1316. Entering the Church, he 
became Archdeacon of Aberdeen 
in 1357, and subsequently enjoyed 
considerable favour from the King, 
Robert II, becoming Clerk of 
Audit of the Royal Household, and 
also one of the Auditors of the 
Exchequer. Again, in 1377, Bar- 
bour received from his sovereign 
a present of £10, a considerable 
sum in those days — while in the 
following year he was granted a 
pension of £1 jper annum; and 
it wotild seem that this was given 
him in recognition of his achieve- 
ments in Hterature, for, in the 
Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, the 
annuity is accounted for as being 
bestowed on the poet " qui com- 
pilavit hbrum de gestis illus- 



25 BAR 

trissimi principis quondam domini 
regis Roberti Bruys . . ." Bar- 
bour died in 1395, but it appears 
that, ere this, he wrote various 
poems besides the epic on which 
his fame rests. An historian who 
Uved just after him, Andrew 
Wynton, speaks in his Orygynale 
Gronykil of Scotland of a lengthy 
poem by Barbour, its subject the 
genealogy of the House of Stuart. 
No trace of this work exists now- 
adays, yet Wynton's statement 
is quite credible withal, as in 
1388, Barbour received a further 
annual grant of £10 ; and this 
points to his having completed 
some important piece of writing at 
the time, while simultaneously it 
supports the idea that the missing 
poem was concerned with the 
reigning dynasty. Another poem 
ascribed to Barbour is The Builc of 
the most noble and vailyeand Con- 
queror, Alexander the Great, first 
pubHshed in 1580, and reprinted by 
the Bannatyne Club in 1831 ; and 
the ascription in this case is based 
on the similarity between the 
poem in question and The Bruce, 
while mainly for a Hke reason 
Barbour is credited with sundry 
further works notably Legends of 
the Saints and the Legend of Troy, 
the former a translation of Le- 
genda Aurea, and the latter a 
rendering of Guido de Colonna's 
Historia Destructionis Troice. 

Whether actually Barbour's or 
not, these minor writings need 
not be discussed here. As regards 
The Bruce, it need hardly be said 
that the original document is 
not extant but in the Advocates' 
Library, Edinburgh, there are two 
manuscript copies, both of the fif- 
teenth century. So far as can be 
ascertained, the earhest printed edi- 
tion of the poem is one dated Edin- 
burgh, 1616 ; but the poet, Patrick 
Gordon, writing prior to this time, 



BAR 



26 



refers to Barbour's Briice as the 
'old printed book," and indeed 
it is reasonable to suppose that 
Chepman and Myllar printed an 
edition thereof. Be that as it 
may, Barbour's epic was issued 
by the famous Poulis press of 
Glasgow in 1648, while at least 
two other editions were published 
during the remaining half of the 
seventeenth century. In Scotland 
the poem enjoyed very consider- 
able popularity till its phraseology 
became outmoded, and in the 
main this popularity was merited. 
Barbour is often crude, and 
appears to have been easily con- 
tented with whatever he wrote ; 
but, if the rank and file of his 
lines were but mediocre, flashes of 
genuine poetry break out ever 
and again, and these flashes are 
the more delightful by reason of 
a seeming absolute spontaneity 
as if they had grown up Hke a 
flower. Take, for instance, this 
passage on the subject of liberty : 

" A ! freedome is a nobill thing ! 
Freedome mayss man to haiff liking ! 
Freedome all solace to man giffia 
He levys at ess that frely levys ! 
A noble hart may haiff nane ess 
Na ellys nooht that may him bless, 
Gif£ freedome fail : for fre liking 
Is yharnit our all othir thing 
Na, he, that ay has levyt fre. 
May nocht know weill the propyrto 
The angyr, na the wrechyt dome 
That is cuplyt to foule thryldome." 

And hke Scotland's other epic poet, 
BUnd Harry, Barbour is never 
languid, but on the contrary in- 
variably vigorous, whilehis descrip- 
tions of martial actions are singu- 
larly vivid. This is true in par- 
ticuJaT of his long account of the 
Battle of Bannockbum, especially 
the lines describing the preliminary 
duel between Bruce and de Bohun, 
and again the closing passage 
which details the rout of the 
English : 



BAR 

" Than myoht men heir ensenzeis cry 
And Soottismen cry hardely, 
' On thame ! On thame ! On thame ! 

thai faill ! 
With that so hard thai can assaill. 
And slew all that thai mycht our-ta. 
And the Soottis archeris 
Schot amang thame so sturdely, 
Ingrevand them so gretumly. . . . 
For thai that with thame feohtand 

weit 
Set hardyment, and strynth, and 

will. 
With hart and courage als thar- till. 
And all thait mayn and aU that 

mycht. 
To put thame foully to the flyoht." 

Like several of the early Scot- 
tish historians, Barbour confounds 
King Robert the Bruce with his 
grandfather, Robert de Bruce, 
known as " the Competitor " ; 
and numerous other deviations 
from fact are contained in his 
work, yet despite this it is one 
of the most valuable authorities 
on the Scottish War of Indepen- 
dence. It has been pointed out 
that Chaucer and Barbour are 
distinctly similar in places, but 
it is unlikely that the EngUsh 
poet ever read his great prede- 
cessor in Scotland, or even heard 
of him. As to the writings which 
influenced Barbour himseK in this 
relation it is possible to speak more 
definitely, for in many passages 
the Scottish singer discloses an 
almost transparent debt to the 
French Roman d' Alexandre. And 
this is interesting and important, 
showing as it does that, so early 
as the fourteenth century, Scot- 
land was imbibing that French 
teaching destined in later years to 
leave an indehble mark on all 
her arts, notably her painting, 
engraving and architecture. 

Literature: The best modern 
editions of The Bruce are one 
edited by Jamieson, Edinburgh, 
1830, and another issued by the 
Scottish Text Society in 1894, 
annotated by Professor Skeat. (Cf. 



BAR 

also article in the Scottish Anti- 
qvury and the Athencewm for 
1896, and a German work by Dr. 
Albert Hermann, Untersttchungen 
uber das 8cdttishe Alexanderbuch, 
1893.) 

BARROK. ( Vide " Sir Ferumbras.") 
A giantess, wife of Estragott (q.v.). 
She used a scythe to mow down 
the Christians, when she was 
defending the walls of Aigremor. 
She was killed by Charlemagne. 

BARUCH. Lord of the Red Branch, 
mentioned in the Ulster cycle of 
the Irish romances as inviting 
Fergus (q.v.) to a feast as he was 
conveying Deirdre and the sons 
of Usna to Emain Macha. Fergus 
consented, but on his return from 
the feast to Emain Macha, he 
found the sons of Usna slain, and 
Deirdre dead by her own act. 
{Vide " Deirdre.") 

BASCNA CLAN. In Ossianic litera- 
ture, one of the two divisions of 
the Fianna {q.v.). Its first leader 
was Cumhal, Finn's father, its 
last Oscar, Finn's grandson. 
These clans were contiaually at 
war with each other for the supre- 
macy, but in the Battle of Gowra 
{q.v.), they were almost exter- 
minated. (F»de"SgeimhSolais.") 

BATTLE OF LOQUIFER, THE. A 

romance of the WiUiam of Orange 
sub-cycle of the Charlemagne saga. 
{Vide "WiUiam of Orange.") 
Gaston Paris did not suppose it 
to be earher than the end of the 
twelfth century. It details the 
mihtary prowess of Renouart {q.v.), 
the gigantic brother-in-law of Wil- 
liam of Orange, and is singular in 
having the sea for its chief scene 
of action. Renouart, with his 
barons, is on the sands before 
Porpaillart, when he. espies a 
Saracen fleet in the roads. The 
Paynim persuade him to enter one 



27 BAT 

of their vessels, on the pretext of 
showing him some merchandise. 
They set sail, and Isembert, a 
monster who had been a fish, but 
who had been metamorphosed 
into a more hideous shape by the 
fairies, tells Renouart that he is to 
be flayed alive by the Saracens. 
Renouart slays the monster, and, 
armed only with a great bar of 
wood, forces the Saracens to let 
him go and to return themselves 
to Baratron, their capital. A new 
Saracen army is placed under the 
leadership of one Loquifer, a 
fairy-giant, so called because he 
is armed with a log. He and 
Renouart agree to meet in 
single combat, on which the issue 
of the war will depend. They meet 
in an island near PorpaiUart. 
Loquifer has in the hoUow of his 
club a fairy balm which imme- 
diately heals his wounds, and this 
circumstance assists him greatly 
in the combat, which goes against 
Renouart. God sends angels seve- 
ral times to assist Renouart, and 
at length he succeeds in depriving 
Loquifer of his club, so that the 
giant's strength departs. Renou- 
art slays him, and the devil carries 
off his soul. But the Saracens 
attack William of Orange, and 
Guibor, his wife, faUs into the 
hands of Tybalt, her flrst husband. 
The Saracens are soon at the gates 
of Orange. Here a single combat 
takes place between William and 
Desrame, the father of Renou- 
art. Wilham prevails, and Des- 
rame's head is cut off. William 
hangs it to a pillar in his hall, 
and whilst there it ceases not to 
blow, to rain, to thimder and to 
lighten, till at last he has it taken 
down and cast into the sea. 
Renouart, grieving over the slain, 
goes to the sea-shore, where he is 
met by three fairies, one of whom 
holds in her hands a purple veil 



BAU 



28 



BEA 



in which are seen trees, flowery 
meads, robes, mantles, rivers, 
fountains ; a second shows a car- 
buncle which changes days and 
hours, the third a staff which 
contains the most delicate meats 
and drinks. They bear Renouart 
to Avalon, where he finds King 
Arthur, Gauvain and Roland (q.v.). 
Arthur, desirous of judging the 
hero's prowess, summons a monster, 
Chapalu, with the head of a cat 
and the body of a horse, who is 
doomed to remain so until he can 
suck the blood from Renouart's 
heel. He does so, and regains 
his human form. Renouart falls 
deeply in love with Morgue 
(Morgana), and from their union 
springs Corbon, a fiend who " did 
nought save evil." Renouart, de- 
sirous of seeing his son MaiQefer, 
who is a prisoner with the Saracens, 
betakes him to Odieme, and 
Morgue, jealous of the child, bids 
Chapalu sink the ship. Renouart 
is wrecked, but succoured by the 
mermaids, and awakes to the 
memory of his woes on the shore 
opposite PorpaUlart. In this ro- 
mance we can perceive how the 
Mediseval poets were affected by 
the mythology of Greece, and 
perhaps by Celtic folklore ele- 
ments, with which we find inter- 
mingled the fairy mythology of 
their own time. 

BAUCENT. The good horse of Wil- 
liam of Orange, in Carlo vingian 
romance. On being addressed by 
his master in the midst of fight, 
he raUied to his encouraging words. 
The faithful steed was slain at the 
Battle of Arleschans or AHscans 
(q.v.). 

BAUDWIN, SIR. Of Brittany. He 
dwelt m England under the guise of 
a hermit. He was known among 
the Arthurian knights as a good 
surgeon. (Vide " Morte d'Arthur.") 



BAVE. In the Ultonian legend, 
"The Cattle Raid of Quelgny " 
{q.v.), daughter of the wizard 
Calatin (q.v.). Wishing to lead 
Niam (q.v.) away from Cuchulain 
(q.v.), she took the form of one of 
her handmaids, and beckoned her 
forth to wander helplessly in 
the woods. 

BEALCHU. A champion of Con- 
naught, mentioned in the Ulster 
cycle of Irish romance. He dis- 
covered Conall (q.v.), bleeding to 
death after his fight with Ket. 
Conall requested Bealchu to 
slay him, but he refused, and took 
him home and healed his wounds. 
His three sons, noting Conall's 
might, resolved to slay the hero 
before he recovered. But Conall 
so contrived that they killed their 
father instead, after which he slew 
all three, and took their heads to 
Ulster. 

BEALM, KING OF. A character in 
The History of Roswall and Lillian 
(q.v.). A friend of the King of 
Naples, he promises to receive 
the latter's son Roswall, but is 
deceived by Roswall's steward, 
who escorts the prince on the 
journey. This person, posing as 
RoswaU, succeeds in receiving from 
the Idng the hand of his daughter 
Lillian. The king does not sus- 
pect the steward, and enforces 
LUlian against her will to accept 
him as her husband. MeanwhUe 
he had engaged Dissawar (Ros- 
wall's alias) as servant to his 
daughter. In response to the 
discoveries of three lords soon 
after the marriage, the king orders 
the pretended prince to be put to 
death, and places the wronged 
" Dissawar " in his rightful posi- 
tion ; further consenting to the 
marriage of his daughter and 
Roswall. 



BEA 

BEATRICE. {Vide " Garin the Lor- 
rainer.") Daughter of Duke Milo 
of Gascony, and wife of Bego. 
She lived at BeUn very happily 
with her husband, and remon- 
strated with him when he left 
on his last journey to visit Garin. 
She never re-married, although 
advised to do so, and died, like her 
sister, a few days after Garin's 
death. 

BEAUMAINS, SIR. Brother to Sir 
Gawaine, and a knight of Arthur. 
He went on a quest to relieve 
Dame Liones {q.v.), who was 
captive to the Km'ght of the 
Red Laundes {q.v.). {Vide " Morte 
d'Arthur.") 

BEBO. Wife of lubdan {q.v.), a 
King of the Wee Polk, mentioned 
in an Irish Ultonian romance. 

BEDEVERE, SIR. A knight of King 
Arthur. He was present at the 
battle between Arthur and Mor- 
dred {q.v.), and after Arthur's 
death he caused a history to be 
written of the event. ( Vide ' ' Morte 
d'Arthur.") 

BEDUERS. A knight alluded to in 
the Grail romance of Didot Perce- 
val, as taking upon himself the 
Grail quest at the same time as 
Perceval. He is perhaps identical 
with Bedivere. 

BEGO. ( Vide "Garin the Eon-ainer.") 
Son of Hervi, Duke of Metz. 
Reared at the court of Prance by 
Count Hardre, he was a fa- 
vourite of King Pepin {q.v.), and 
was a chivalrous knight, always 
ready to fight for any of his 
kinsmen who needed help. He 
displayed great courage on many 
occasions, both in single combat 
and at the head of his forces. He 
married Beatrice {q.v.), daughter 
of Duke Milo {q.v.), and lived 
happily with her, but, weary to 



29 BEN 

see his brother again, he set out 
to hunt a boar in order that he 
might take the head to Garin, and 
this resulted in his death. 

BEKKHILD. {Vide " Volsungs.") 
Sister to Brynhild, wife of Heimar 
{q.v.) and mother of Alsund {q.v.). 

BELE, KING. ( Vide "Prithjof Saga.") 
Pather of Ingebjorg, Helgi, and 
Half dan. 

BELISANTE. (Fic?e"Amys and Amy- 
lion.") Daughter of the Duke of 
Lombardy {q.v.) and wife of Amys. 
She was concerned in the 
treason which the steward brought 
against Amys, and was the 
mother of the two children whom 
her husband sacrificed for the 
sake of Amylion. 

BELISENT. {Vide "Sir Otuel.") 
Daughter of Charlemagne. Mar- 
ried to Sir Otuel. 

BELLIANCE, SIR, LE ORGULUS. 

Brother to Sir Frol, who was slain 
by Lancelot during the fight for 
Guinever at the stake. {Vide 
" Morte d'Arthur.") 

BELLONGERIUS, SIR, LE BREUSE. 

Son of Sir Alisander {q.v.). He is 
mentioned in Arthurian romance 
as having avenged both his father's 
and grandfather's death by kill- 
ing King Mark. {Vide "Morte 
d'Arthur.") 

BEN BULBEN, THE BOAR OF. In 

Irish romance, the transformed 
step-brother and destroyer of Der- 
mot (g.f-). The legend runs : Donn 
{q.v.), Dermot's father, gave his 
son to be brought up by Angus 
Og {Q-'"-)- His mother proved 
unfaithful to her husband and 
bore a child to Roc, the steward 
of Angus. One day his child, ^n 
fear of some hounds that were 
fighting on the floor of the hall, 
ran between the knees of Donn. 
His stepfather then squeezed him 



BEO 30 

to death and flung the body to the 
dogs. On discovering with Finn's 
aid the cause of his son's death, 
Roe, by virtue of a druidic rod, 
transformed the body into a huge 
Uving boar without ears or tail, 
and bade it bring Dermot to his 
death . The beast then rushed from 
the hall, and roamed about the 
forests of Ben Bulben till the fatal 
day when it slew Dermot. 

BEOWULF. An Anglo-Saxon epic 
poem of great antiquarian and 
philological interest. The events 
which are described in it are 
referred to the middle of the fifth 
century, and the lay itself was 
perhaps brought to England by 
Teutonic settlers from their original 
home in Germany. The MS. in 
the Cottonian library is the only 
one known to exist, and that was 
unfortunately seriously injured by 
fire in 1731. It is in two portions 
which exhibit obvious signs of 
having been written at different 
periods and by different hands, 
and is certainly a copy of an older 
manuscript, executed about the 
beginning of the eighth century. 
That the poem is of the antiquity 
ascribed to it appears probable 
from the admixture of Christianity 
and paganism which its text 
contains, and it would seem from 
this circumstance that it must 
have originated at a period when 
the elder Teutonic faith was in 
process of ehmination. There can 
be little doubt that Beowulf is 
one of the great army of Sons of 
the Light, Sun-heroes, or Men of 
the Sun, whose business it was to 
wage eternal war against the 
powers of darkness until they 
themselves fell before the shaft 
that flies in gloom, or were slain 
by the night-dragon. He comes 
to land in the traditional sun-boat 
as a child. We find that the 



BEO 

Saxons called their harvest month 
Beo or Bewod, and we know that 
gods of hght are invariably con- 
nected with fertihty and the 
raising of crops. Grendel, as the 
peruser of the myth in the ap- 
pended synopsis will observe, is 
the gloomy demon in one of his 
most dread forms. He is akin to 
the night-dragon, the Sphinx, the 
Dragon of Wantley, and the 
throttling snake Ahi. Slain, his 
dam comes to avenge him. She 
is merely his prototype, as is the 
later dragon encountered typifying 
the night-forces first conquered 
by the sun, and then victorious 
over him. Like all mythical mon- 
sters this pair are the guardians 
of a great treasure, and when, like 
Herakles, Beowulf lies dying of 
the dragon's venom, he beholds 
in the lustre of the gained hoard 
the splendour of the gates of the 
setting sun. Beowulf was a mighty 
warrior and saved his country from 
defeat by the Swedes. At a feast 
of victory a wandering minstrel 
sang of how he had come from 
the court of Hrodgar of Jutland, 
King of the Skdoldungs, whose 
realm was being devastated by the 
monster Grendel, descendant of the 
daughters of Cain and evil demons 
iq.v.), and he called upon Beowulf 
to slay the giant. Promising his 
aid , Beowulf, after a trial of strength 
with Breka (g'.D.) set out with fifteen 
noble Goths for the castle of King 
Hrodgar, who received them with 
joy. Beowulf was so confident of 
victory that he laid aside his 
armour, deciding to fight Grendel 
with his hands . At midiiight Gren- 
del entered the hall where Beowulf 
lay among his warriors, and after 
a fierce struggle Beowulf defeated 
him, the monster escaping only by 
leaving his arm, wrenched out at 
the socket, in the hero's grip. 
Highly was Beowulf honoured 



BEO 

next day, and great rejoicings 
took place, but that night there 
came out of the sea another 
monster— Grendel's mother, who 
came to avenge her son. She 
slew many of the Skioldvmgs, and 
Beowulf, learning at morning of 
the havoc she had wrought, vowed 
to seek out and slay her. He 
dived to the bottom of the sea, 
encoimtering many dangers, and 
in the hall of the mer-woman's 
palace, where Grendel lay dead, 
Beowulf slew her, after a fierce 
fight. Laden with gifts and 
acclaimed as a mighty hero, Beo- 
wulf returned to his own country. 
There he passed many years in 
peace, till the Frisians raided 
Gothland, and King Hygelak was 
slain in a punitive expedition to 
Friesland. Hygelak's son Hardred 
(q.v.) was but a child, and while 
lus mother Hygd mourned for her 
husband the barons quarrelled 
among themselves till the queen 
roused herself from her grief, and 
calling a meeting of the notables 
advised that Beowulf be elected 
king, as Hardred was too young 
to rule. The assembly cheered, 
but Beowulf refused to deprive 
Hardred of his rights, saying that 
rather would he act as regent 
till the young king could govern 
for himself. This Beowulf did 
faithfully, but soon after attaining 
sovereign power Hardred (q.v.) 
was slain, and the Gothic AUthing 
unanimously elected Beowulf King, 
which office he now accepted. He 
defeated those who raided the 
country, the last being the Swedes 
{vide " Eadgils,"), after which he 
reigned in peace, and with wisdom, 
for about forty years. Then the 
land was laid waste by a dragon, 
roused to wrath and grief by the 
loss of a gold pot stolen by a 
fugitive slave from the treasure 
that the monster guarded. The 



31 BER 

flame of its breath devastated the 
land, and Beowulf, despite the 
remonstrances of his friends, re- 
solved to attack it. He had a 
three-fold shield made, and set out 
with Wichstan (q.v.) and ten other 
warriors. A dreadful struggle took 
place between Beowulf and the 
dragon, till at last the smoke and 
fire from the monster's mouth 
cleared momentarily, and his com- 
panions saw Beowulf in the dra- 
gon's jaws. They all sought refuge 
save Wichstan, who went to his 
master's aid, so that finally Beo- 
wulf was able to slay the dragon, 
though he was poisoned by its 
fangs and knew himself doomed. 
He bade Wichstan bring the 
treasure out of the dragon's cave 
as the king's last gift to his 
people, and presently he died. 
He was buried on a height named 
. Hronesnas. He was so beloved by 
his people that they refused to take 
the treasure his death had won 
for them, placing it in his grave. 

It is obvious that this poem did 
not originate in Scandinavia or the 
North, but probably in Sleswig, the 
names of the various characters 
being purely Saxon. It perhaps 
relates to veritable occurrences in 
the history of our Teutonic fore- 
fathers ere they yet left their 
original land of Angeln. 

BERGTHORA. ( Vide " Burnt Njal.") 
Wife of Njal. Her bitter enmity 
with Hallgerda, Gunnar's wife, 
brought about her own and her 
husband's fiery death. 

BERNARD, SIR. Of Astolat, Father to 
Elaine de Banke (q.v.), Tirre and 
Lavaine. He is especially known 
for his hospitality to the Knights 
of the Round Table. (Vide 
" Morte d'Arthur.") 

BERNARD OF NAISIL. ( Vide " Garin 
the Lorrainer.") A crafty un- 



BER 32 

scrupulous man. He began life 
as a monk, and being nearly killed 
at the battle at Verdun was 
hidden in the same monastery. 
He had a struggle with Garin for 
the golden cup at the king's 
marriage, and another fight with 
Garin when Galopin's message 
came to him . He had a great hatred 
of the Lorrainers , and fought against 
them on every possible occasion. 



BERNI, FRANCESCO. A satiric poet 
of Florence, near which city he was 
bom about the year 1490. He 
remodelled the Orlando Innamo- 
rato of Boiardo {q.v.) in a free and 
lively style, and so characteristic 
was the light and elegant mockery 
of his verse, that his countrymen 
attached to it the appellation of 
hernesque. Bemi was of noble 
but not opulent family, and re- 
ceived a post in the ApostoUc 
Datary, employment in which was 
uncongenial to him. He made 
many enemies by his biting satires, 
and though he made much pre- 
tence to a love of hberty, did 
nothing to enfranchise himself 
from the condition of dependence 
in which he remained for the 
whole of his Ufe. He was incorri- 
gibly lazy, and his chief pleasure 
was dozing in bed. As he refused 
to poison the Cardinal Ippohto at 
the request of that Churchman's 
cousin the Duke Alessandro de' 
Medici, he was himself poisoned 
a few days afterwards, probably 
in order to ensure that he would 
not betray the illustrious instigator 
of the crime. Under his hand 
everything was transformed into 
ridicule. Like Ariosto, Bemi 
treated chivalry with a degree of 
mockery, and if he has not 
travestied the tale of Boiardo, he 
has indulged in inextinguishable 
laughter at the absurdities he has 
himself created. He also wrote 



BEV 

many satirical sonnets and other 
verses in terza rima, among which 
are eulogies upon Aristotle and on 
the Plague. 

BERNIER. (Vide " Raoul of Cam- 
brai.") The Squire of Raoul of 
Cambrai. He was a natural son 
of Ybert, a lord of Vermandois. 
Raoul sacks the convent of Ber- 
nier's mother, Marsent, and incurs 
his implacable enmity, being finally 
slain by him. This brings about 
a feud, which is later patched up, 
at which Charlemagne is highly 
displeased, insults Bemier, and is 
overthrown. He is affianced to 
the daughter of Red Guerry, one 
of his principal enemies, and is 
then reconciled to him. Charles, 
the emperor, takes Bemier's wife 
prisoner, and gives her to another, 
but Bemier regains her. Guerry, 
repenting of his friendship with 
Bemier, treacherously slays him. 

BEVIS OF HAMPTON. An EngUsh 
romance of the thirteenth century. 
Some romances represent Bevis 
as a son of Ogier the Dane (q.v.). 
Like Arthur or Tristrem he is bom 
to greatness, he is a match for 
any number of men who may 
assail him, is the victim of 
treacherous letters ordering him 
to be slain, is imprisoned in a 
dragon-haunted dungeon, but 
escapes once more into the light 
— ^passing from obscurity to fight 
and gloom to fight again. Lici- 
dents in his myth are common to 
those of Odysseus and the Hindoo 
legend of Logedas Raja. Like 
Odysseus he returns in traveUer's 
attire to the home of his lady-love, 
and is known by his horse fike 
Ogier. The writer of Bevis was 
obviously destitute of imagination, 
but the nature of the material 
which he sought to mould into a 
story is none the less evident, for 
the adventures of the hero are 



BEV 



33 



obviously superimposed upon the 
ancient matter of the sun-myth. 
The romance tells how Guy, Earl 
of Southampton, spent his youth 
in defending his territory, which 
was exposed to foreign invasion, 
and late in life married a daughter 
of the King of Scotland. She had 
a lover, Sir Murdour, and hated her 
husband. She sent for her lover 
and with him made a pact to get 
her husband into the forest, on the 
pretext of procuring some game for 
her, where Sir Murdour met him 
and brutally killed him. She had 
one son, Bevis, whom she dishked 
also, and to get rid of him after 
first trying to get his uncle Saber 
to kiU him, she had him sold as a 
slave and sent "into Heathen- 
esse." He arrived at the court 
of Ermyn, a Saracen King, who, 
taking a fancy to the clever boy, 
completed his education, knighted 
him and made him his chamber- 
lain. He proposed to Bevis to 
marry his daughter Josyan, but 
this offer Bevis dechned. Brad- 
mond. King of Damascus, sent 
Ermyn a proposal for Josyan's 
hand, threatening if she did not 
marry him, that he would ravage 
her father's country. Incensed at 
this threat, Ermyn prepared to 
fight, and Josyan armed Bevis, 
gave him a very swift horse called 
Arundel and a famous sword called 
Morglay. Bevis returned victor- 
ious, and was greatly honoured, 
and Josyan paid him every atten- 
tion, indeed, made violent love 
to him. But it was only when 
she promised to renounce paganism 
that he avowed his passion for her. 
Two knights whom Bevis had 
befriended and who saw Josyan 
and Bevis together and heard 
their conversation went to Ermyn 
and told him all. They suggested 
to the king to send Bevis with a 
letter to Bradmond, in which the 



BEV 

king charged him to take Bevis 
prisoner. In good faith Bevis 
set out, not even providing himself 
with sufficient food, but on the 
way he was entertained by a 
palmer who turned out to be the 
son of Saber. Saber had gone to 
the Isle of Wight, hating the rule 
of his dead master's successors, and 
had defended the island against 
them. He had sent his son dis- 
guised as a palmer to try to find 
Bevis and bring him back to help 
them. Bevis did not reveal him- 
seK to Terry, but said he knew 
Bevis, and would relate this news 
to him and that Saber would get 
help as soon as possible. Bevis 
then went on to Damascus, and 
the magnificence of Bradmond's 
palace impressed him. But the 
sight of the people preparing a 
sacrifice for an idol enraged him 
so much that he seized it and 
cast it to the ground, thereby 
rousing the indignation of the 
populace, who tried to seize him. 
He made such good use of an 
ordinary sword, however, that he 
forced his way to the king and 
showed him the letter. Brad- 
mond, after complaining to Bevis 
of his sacrilege, ordered his men to 
put him in a dungeon inhabited by 
two dragons which devoured those 
cast to them, and he pretended 
that ErmjTi had arranged this 
punishment. Bevis slew the mon- 
sters, but for seven years he was 
kept in the dungeon on most 
wretched fare. Josyan had mean- 
while married Inor, King of Moun- 
braunt, being told that Sir Bevis 
had gone to England and had 
married. Bevis escaped, and 
having armed himself and taken 
a good horse, he rode out to the 
forest/ After many adventures 
a knight he met told him of 
Josyan's marriage to Inor, so he 
went to find her. Disguised as a 



BEV 34 

palmer he arrived at her tower 
and heard her praying, and his 
own name was not forgotten. She 
gave dole to poor pilgrims daily, 
so Sir Bevis went next morning and 
was fed by her and spoke of his 
travels, and when she asked him 
if he knew anything of a Sir 
Bevis, he said he was a friend that 
had been sent in search of a horse 
called Arundel. The queen then 
took him to the stable, and when- 
ever she saw him mount the horse 
she recognized him. The pair, re- 
united, wished to set out together 
at once, but were advised by 
Boniface, Josyan's confidential 
chamberlain, to wait till the king 
came back from hunting and 
pretend that Bevis had come from 
Syria, and that his brother had 
been defeated by King Syrak, 
and had no means of sending 
for help. This ruse succeeded, 
and the king set out with all his 
men to Syria to rescue his brother. 
Sir Bevis then donned the best 
armour he could find, mounted 
Arundel, and with Boniface they 
made their escape to a cave. 
While Sir Bevis was out hunting 
one day Josyan was attacked in 
the cave by two Uons. They 
killed and devoured Boniface, but 
instead of hurting Josyan, they lay 
down with their heads in her lap. 
When Sir Bevis returned and 
found what had happened, he 
rejoiced in the knowledge of 
Josyan's chastity, and, killing the 
Uons, they left the cave and con- 
tinued their journey. They soon 
met a great giant called Ascapard, 
whom Bevis overcame. At Jos- 
yan's request, he made him their 
page. Seeing a ship bound for 
Germany they went on board, 
but some Saracens objected to 
their presence. Ascapard drove 
them out, and carrying Bevis and 
Josyan on board, set sail, and 



BEV 

they soon arrived at Cologne. 
The Bishop of Cologne was Bevis's 
uncle, and was much interested in 
hearing his adventures. Josyan 
was christened as also the pagan 
giant. Sir Bevis's next adventure 
was with a dragon which he MUed, 
taking its head back to Cologne. 
The grateful Bishop of Cologne 
gave Bevis a hundred knights to 
accompany him to England to 
avenge his father, and leaving 
Josyan in care of Ascapard, Bevis 
set out. He landed near Southamp- 
ton, and sent a messenger to Sir 
Murdour to the effect that a 
knight of Brittany had arrived 
with one hundred men who were 
wiUing to offer him service if he 
desired. If not, they would assist 
his rival. Bevis had taken the 
name of Sir Jarrad, and under his 
assumed name heard a very garbled 
version of his own history. He 
offered to go to the Isle of Wight 
in the interests of Sir Murdour 
agaiust Saber. He had no sooner 
joined Saber, than he sent word 
to Sir Murdour of his real name 
and purpose. Meanwhile Josyan 
was being persecuted by the 
attentions of a German earl, Sir 
Mile. To save herself she promised 
to marry him, and on the night of 
their wedding strangled him with 
her girdle. For this, she was con- 
demned to be burned. Prior to 
this she had sent a message to Sir 
Bevis to come to her help. He 
arrived in time, and he and 
Ascapard rescued her at the stake, 
subsequently returning together 
to the Isle of Wight. A great 
battle then took place between 
Sir Bevis and Sir Murdour. Sir 
Murdour was slain by Bevis, with 
the assistance of Ascapard, and 
this decided the struggle. The 
countess threw herself down from 
a tower and was killed. The 
Bishop of Cologne came to marry 



BEV 



Josyan and Bevis, and Bevis got 
back his own territories, and was 
then made earl-marshal by the 
king. The king's son begged 
Sir Bevis to give him Arundel, but 
Sir Bevis dechned, and Edgar 
tried to steal the horse, but it 
kicked him so severely that he 
died. The king ordered Sir Bevis 
to be hanged for this. But the 
barons objected, and in expiation 
Sir Bevis proposed to leave Eng- 
land and hand over his estates to 
Saber. He left the country im- 
mediately with his wife and 
nephew, Terry. Ascapard, turn- 
ing traitor, thought that he would 
fare better now with his old master, 
so he hastened to King Inor at 
Mounbraunt and got from him a 
company of Saracens to help him 
to take back Josyan to the king. 
Josyan became the mother of 
twin sons when she was alone in 
the forest, and at this juncture 
she was carried off by Ascapard. 
When Bevis and Terry came back 
they found the two babes, and 
guessed what had happened. They 
left the children, one who was to 
be called Guy, to the care of a 
forester, the other to be called 
Mile, to a fisherman, and both 
were christened. Bevis and Terry 
went on to find Ascapard and 
Josyan. On their way they 
entered a tournament and gained 
the prize — the wealthy daughter 
of a Duke. As Bevis was already 
married thiey arranged she should 
remain with him till he found his 
wife and then marry Terry. Sir 
Saber meanwhile had a dream. 
Emebrough, his wife, interpreted 
dreams, and she concluded from 
it that some misfortune had over- 
taken Sir Bevis. Saber set out 
with twelve knights encased in 
armour under pilgrim's dress, and 
he soon overtook Ascapard, and, 
killing him, rescued Josyan. She 



35 BIO 

' made an ointment which disguised 
her, and she remained with Saber 
for seven years till accidentally 
they came to the town where Sir 
Bevis was, where they were happily 
united and her children joined 
them. King Inor met Sir Bevis 
in single combat, but by the help 
of his famous sword, Morglay, Sir 
Bevis slew him. Bevis put on 
Inor's armour and entered the 
garrison at Mounbraunt and con- 
quered that country and converted 
it to Christianity. After this 
Saber's wife arrived to tell them 
that Edgar of England had de- 
prived their son Robert of his 
estates and given them to a 
favourite, Sir Bryant of Cornwall. 
Sir Bevis set out with a great 
army, and having inflicted much 
damage upon Edgar, that monarch 
to obtain peace, offered his only 
daughter to Mile, son of Bevis, 
and through this marriage Mile 
became King of England . Josyan , 
Bevis and Sir Guy went back to 
Ermonry first, where Sir Guy 
reigned as King, and Bevis resumed 
his sway at Mounbraunt. 

BIBUNG. ( Vide " Dietrich of Bern.") 
He styled himself the unconquer- 
able protector of Queen Virginal 
{q.v.). 

BIORN(l). {Vide "Grettir Saga.") 
The chief of Thorkel's men and 
enemy of Grettir. Having fled 
from the bear that ravaged the 
land he was mocked and jeered 
at by Grettir, and, therefore, in 
revenge he cast his enemy's cloak 
into the bear's den. Both men 
had promised to keep the peace 
while they dwelt with Thorkel, but 
upon landing in Norway they 
met, and Biom was slain. 

BIORN (2). A daring fellow who 
harboured Grettir, and urged him 
to give the dandy Gisli (g.v.) a 
lesson. 



BIR 

BIROG. In Irish romance, a Druid- 
ess who by her magic brought 
Kian {q.v.) and EthHnn {q.v.) 
together. 

BISCLAVARET. (Vide " Weie-Woli, 
Lay of the.") 

BISHOP OF COLOGNE. ( Vide " Bevis 
of Hampton.") Uncle of Sir Bevis. 
In gratitude to Bevis for dehvering 
the people of Cologne from a 
dragon, he suppUed him with a hun- 
dred knights when he went to 
England. Afterwards he, himself, 
went there to perform the marriage 
ceremony between Bevis and 
Josyan. 

BITEROLF AND DIETRICH. {Vide 
" Dietrich of Bern.") 

BITEROLF AND DIETLIEB. A poem of 
great length and tediousness, be- 
haved by Gervinus to, belong to 
the end of the twelfth century. 
The legend, in brief, is as follows : 
Biterolf , a gaUant knight of the 
capital of Toledo, hearing wonder- 
ful stories about King Etzel's 
(Attila's) court, secretly leaves his 
wife, Diethnt, and his son, Diet- 
lieb, to go in search of it. In his 
absence, the son grows up, and, 
in Hke maimer, sets out in search 
of his father. In crossing Bur- 
gundy, he is attacked by King 
Gunthar, but is victorious. On 
reaching Etzel's court, a fight 
occurs between father and son, 
their relationship being unknown. 
A mutual recognition takes place, 
and they proceed homewards, along 
with an army sent by Etzel to 
avenge the outrage perpetrated 
by the Burgundians on young 
Dietheb. Gimthar meets them 
with a host of vahant guests, 
invited under pretext of a tourna- 
ment. They fight together, and 
the mock battle turns into a real 
one, which remains indecisive. 
A general reconciliation follows, 



36 BLA 

after which, Biterolf and Dietheb 
continue their way homeward. 

The poem contains over 13,000' 
lines, and is undoubtedly con- 
nected with the Nibelungenlied 
cycle. It is written in doggerel 
verse, and is perhaps by the same 
author as Klage. Its chief value 
is that it presents to us aU the 
leading characters of the Nibelun- 
genlied with others of the cycle, 
such as Walther, often in con- 
nection with details which seem 
to belong to a lost portion of the 
original cycle. 

BITEROLF, YARL. Father of Diet- 
heb (Emenrick). (Vide " Dietrich 
of Bern.") 

BJORN. (F4cie"FrithjofSaga.") The 
sworn companion of Frith j of after 
the death of the latter's father, 
Thorsten. 

BLACK SAINGLEND. Cuchulain's 
(q.v.) last horse. When the Ulster 
hero was fatally struck by Lewry 
(q.v.), it broke away from the 
chariot. 

BLAI. In Irish Ossianic romance, the 
Danaan mother of Oisin (q.v.). 

BLAISE. Alluded to in the Didot 
Perceval as the " Master " of 
Merlin, resident in " Ortoberland." 
He alone could tell Merlin the 
use of the Grail. He " writed 
down these things, and by his 
writings we know them." The 
whole passage is one of much 
obscurity. In the romance of 
Merlin (Auchinleck MS.) he is 
alluded to as a holy hermit who 
tried to keep Merlin's mother and 
aunts from wrong-doing, and when 
Merhn, the offspring of Satan, was 
bom as the fruit of their sin, 
baptised him ere his infernal 
parent could intervene. 

BLAMORE, SIR DE GANIS. Brother 
to Bleoberis (q.v.). He was one 
of the knights taken by Lancelot 



BLA 



to Benwick, which they ruled over 
for a time. (Vide " Morte 
d'Arthur.") 

BLANCHFLEUR or WHITE FLOWER. 

In Arthurian legend the beauteous 
damsel whom Sir Perceval defends 
against CHmadex's {q.v.) marshal, 
Aguigrenons {q.v.). She favours Sir 
Perceval with her amorous embraces 
the night before the onslaught, 
but withholds them the next day 
in order to urge him to greater 
prowess in the contest. 

BLANCHFLEUR. ( Vide " Florice and 
Blanchfleur.") Daughter of Topase 
the daughter of the Duke of 
Ferrara. She was friendly with 
Florice, son of Felix, King of 
Murcia, from infancy, and gave 
him a mystic ring. Florice was 
banished for his love of the 
Christian maiden, and she was 
sentenced to death, but was 
shipped to Alexandria instead, 
there to be sold as a slave. But 
Florice discovered her there, partly 
by means of the ring she had given 
him, and they were happily united. 
There are several versions of the 
tale, which is told by Boccaccio 
in his Filocopo. 

BLANCHE-FLEUR. (Vide "Guy of 
Warwick.") Daughter of Reig- 
nier, Emperor of Germany. A 
tournament was held in her honour, 
in which Sir Guy took the prize. 

BLANCHEFLOWER. In Carlovingian 
romance, sister of WiUiam of 
Orange, and Queen to Louis Le 
Debonair. On his return from 
the Battle of Arleschans or Ahscans 
(q.v.) to plead for succour against 
the Saracens, she mocks WiUiam 
for his sorry array, but he puts 
her to shame, tearing the crown 
from her head, seizing her by the 
hair, and abusing her foully. He 
is even about to behead her, when 



37 BLE 

their mother Hermengard takes 
her away. A reconciUation is, 
however, brought about between 
them through the mediation of 
the holy Alice, the queen's 
daughter. 

BLANCHFLOWER. {Vide " Gaiin oi 
Lorraine.") Daughter of King 
Thierry of Savoy {q.v.). She was 
betrothed to Garin at the age of 
fifteen years, which event was 
followed by the death of her 
father. She arrived in Paris, when 
the Lorrainers and Bordelais met 
to settle their dispute, and was 
much admired by Pepin {q.v.), 
who through the advice of the 
Archbishop of Rheims {q.v.), 
married her. Her first love was 
present at the wedding . She after- 
wards assisted the brothers, Bego 
and Garin, who plotted against 
the king. She once went on an 
errand of peace to Garin. 

BLANID. Wife of Curoi, King of 
Munster, mentioned in the Ulster 
cycle of Irish romance. She con- 
ceived a violent passion for Cuchu- 
lain {q.v.) and requested him to 
abduct her from her husband's 
dwelling. Knowing that Cuchu- 
lain was in hiding hard by, she 
sent him word to wait until a 
certain stream should grow white. 
She poured the milk of three cows 
into the brook, and on this signal 
Cuchulain attacked the abode of 
Curoi, slew him, and carried ofiE 
Blanid. Fercartna, the Sennachie 
or bard of Curoi, followed them, 
and waiting until the party had 
gained the edge of the cHfE of 
Beara, seized Blanid, and' leaped 
with her into the depths below. 

BLEHERIS. A poet " bom and bred 
in Wales," alluded to by Gautier 
de Denain, one of the continuators 
of Chretien de Troyes, as his 
authority for the stories of Gawaxn, 



BLE 38 

and believed to be identical with 
the Bledhericus mentioned by 
Giraldus Cambrensis, as famosus 
illefahulator, and the Breris quoted 
by Thomas of Brittany as an 
authority for the story of Tristan. 

BLEOBERIS DE GANIS, SIR. Brother 
to Blamore, and cousin to Sir 
Lancelot. He is for a while, 
according to Arthurian Romance, 
Duke of Poictiers in Benwick, the 
duchy of which is given him by 
Lancelot {gt-v.). (Vide "Morte 
d'Arthur.") 

BLIANT, SIR. A noble knight and 
defender of Lancelot {q.v.), whom 
he harbours during his insane 
period. 

BLIHOS BLIHERIS. A person alluded 
to in the Gonte du Graal, as being 
conquered by Gauvain or Gawain, 
and as recounting to Arthur's 
Court the tale of the wandering 
damsels sprung from those ravished 
by King Amangons {q.v.). " So 
long would they wander tiU God 
gave them to find the Court, 
whence joy and splendour would 
come to the land." They were 
regained by Arthur's knights. 

BLIND HARRY. A Mediaeval Scot- 
tish poet. His name is sometimes 
spelt Hary, while occasionally he 
is styled Henry the Minstrel. He 
lived in the fifteenth century, but 
he is iucluded here because the 
work by which he is remembered, 
a long poem, entitled Schir William 
Wallace, which recounts the deeds 
of that hero, is based largely on 
traditions handed down orally 
since Wallace's own time, that is 
to say, the end of the thirteenth 
century. 

One of the earhest trustworthy 
Scottish historians, John Major in 
his Historia Majoris Britannice, 
teUs that " There was one Henry, 
blind from his birth, who in the 



BLI 

time of my childhood fabricated 
a whole book about WUHam 
Wallace, and herein he wrote down 
in our native rhymes — and this 
was a kind of composition in 
which he had much sMU — ^all that 
passed current amongst the people 
in his day. I, however, can give 
but a partial evidence to such 
writings as these. This Henry 
used to recite his tales in the 
houses of the nobles, and thereby 
he procured food and clothing." 
Major was bom in 1469, so Harry's 
birth must have been considerably 
anterior to that, but hardly any- 
thing is known definitely about 
his hfe. On the 1st April, 1490, 
as the Accounts of the Lord High 
Treasurer 0/ Scotland show, he 
was granted a small pension by 
James IV., then resident at Stir- 
Ung. The amount was only eigh- 
teen shilhngs per annum, but, 
though this figure appears diminu- 
tive, if not actually ridiculous, it 
must be borne in mind that the 
purchasing value of such a sum 
was much greater in the middle- 
ages than now. The last payment 
of Harry's pension recorded in the 
treasurer's books is in 1492, and 
as James was invariably generous 
towards poets, and usually paid a 
pension very regularly up tiU the 
time of the annuitant's death, the 
year in question was probably 
that in which Blind Harry died. 
Moreover, he is mentioned by 
Dunbar in his Lament for the 
Makaris, composed in 1507, so he 
must have been dead by that time. 
Major's statement that Harry 
was bhnd from his birth has often 
been questioned, and with good 
reason ; for the poem of Wallace 
is not the output of an illiterate 
man, but rather the work of one 
who had received a fairly good 
education, as good at least as 
that of the average ecclesiastic of 



BLI 

the period. Indeed, Harry's verse 
frequently suggests obligations to 
Chaucer, and proclaims the author 
to have been acquainted with 
the Arthurian legends, and the 
tales of ancient Greece ; while 
although, to repeat, the poem is 
based chiefly on tradition, Harry 
also utihsed several Latin authori- 
ties. He acknowledges this re- 
peatedly, laying particular stress 
on his debt to 

" the Latin buk, 
Qiihilk Maister Blair in his time 
undertuk " ; 

And the person cited thus has 
always been assumed to .have been 
one Arnold Blair, a chaplain to 
Wallace, who wrote a biography 
of the latter. 

Harry's epic is written in ten- 
syllable lines of heroic verse, and 
as regards its historipal value, this 
has been much impugned, but 
perhaps unduly so, for the poem 
corroborates nearly all that is 
known about Wallace from other 
sources. At the same time, the 
minstrel was distinctly a hero- 
worshipper and not a mere chro- 
nicler, and he crowds the life of 
Scotland's Uberator with endless 
valiant deeds of which other 
writers have nothing to say. For 
instance, he relates that Wallace 
defeated Edward I. at Biggar 
long before the memorable Battle 
of Stirling Bridge in 1297, and of 
this event there is no trace in 
history. True it is that, in 1303, 
the Scots won a victory over the 
English at Roslin, and perhaps 
Harry's statement is a confusion 
with this event, the supposition 
being the more reasonable inas- 
much as the poet's chronology is 
usually inaccurate ; but then, 
there is no proof that Wallace 
took part in the fight at Roslin, 
the Scottish forces having been 
commanded on that occasion by 



39 BLI 

John Comyn and Simon Eraser. 
Again, the poet represents his 
hero as receiving a visit from the 
Queen of England at a time when 
no such person existed ; while not 
content with this, he even depicts 
this mythological queen as enam- 
oured of Sir William. Numerous 
other examples might be given of 
Harry's perversion of fact, and, 
in short, it is clear that he allowed 
his own family to flower at large 
round the Ufe of his hero ; while 
it is natural, besides, that the 
name and fame of Wallace should 
have gathered about them many 
extravagant legends during the 
two centuries between Sir William's 
own time and Harry's. 

Blind Harry is hardly in the fore- 
front of the Mediaeval Scottish 
poets. He is by no means the 
equal of his predecessor, James I., 
nor yet of his mighty successor, 
WiUiam Dunbar, and even his 
best passages can hardly be ranked 
beside the finest in John Barbour's 
Bruce. Nevertheless, the general 
level of excellence in Wallace is 
fully equal to that in the last- 
named poem ; and, whatever 
Harry's Hmitations, his verse is 
always manly and decisive. Vigour 
seems to have attended him pe- 
rennially, and it is impossible to 
conceive him hesitating, or search- 
ing for the right word, the right 
phrase. On the contrary, spon- 
taneity characterises his work 
throughout ; while it abounds in 
very vivid descriptions — descrip- 
tions so vivid, indeed, that their 
existence supports the contention 
that the poet was not bUnd all his 
Hfe. 

In the Advocates' Library, Edin- 
burgh, there is a complete manu- 
script copy of Schir William 
Wallace, dated 1488, the scribe 
who wrote this being one John 
Ramsay. As the whole poem was 



BLI 



40 



copied so early as this — at least 
four years before the poet's death 
— it may be assumed that it was 
very popular during his hfetime ; 
and the mere fact that Harry 
was universally known by his 
Christian name, while his surname 
has not come down to posterity, 
likewise points to his having been 
an idol of the people in his own 
day. Nor did his reputation die 
with him, and it should be noted 
that Bums, in one of his letters, 
speaks of Wallace with great 
enthusiasm, saying it was one of 
the first books he read in boyhood 
with real delight, and adding that 
it left an indehble mark on his 
memory. A fine tribute was this 
to the old poet, while further 
homage has been offered him in 
the shape of many editions of his 
works. Carlyle's friend, David 
Laing, in his preface to Oologras 
and Gawain mentions having seen 
an edition of Wallace printed by 
the first Scottish press, that con- 
ducted by Chepman and MyUar, 
during the reign of James IV. 
Such an edition, however, is not 
known to exist nowadays,' and 
perhaps Laing was in error. Be 
that as it may, Harry's poem was 
certainly printed again and again 
during the sixteenth and seven- 
teenth centuries, while notable 
editions of recent years are one 
edited by John Jamieson in 1820, 
and another pubhshed by the 
Scottish Text Society in 1885-86. 

Literature : Despite the scanty 
materials therefor, Blind Harry's 
Hfe has been repeatedly written, 
notably by David Irvine in Lives 
of the Scottish Poets, Edinburgh, 
1810. The merits of Wallace are 
discussed by T. F. Henderson in 
Scottish Vernacular Literature, and 
by J. H. Millar in A Literary 
History of Scotland ; while the 
question of Chaucer's influence on 



BOD 

Harry was debated by Professor 
Walter W. Skeat in The Modern 
Language Quarterly of November, 
1897. 

BLIOCADRANS. Mentioned in the 
Conte du Oraal as the father of 
Perceval. He of the twelve knights 
of the land of Wales alone sur- 
vived, so eager were they for 
tournaments and combats. He 
goes forth to a tourney held by 
the King of Wales against the folk 
of the Waste Fountain, in which he 
is slain. His wife, who has borne 
a son, Perceval, pretends a pil- 
grimage to St. Brandan in Scot- 
land, but removes to the Waste 
Forest, far from aU men. Here 
she brings up Perceval, warning 
him against men in armour, who, 
she tells him, are " Devils." {Vide 
" Perceval.") 

BO ANNA. (The river Boyne), in Irish 
romance. Mother of Angus Og 
{q.v.). 

BOCTUS AND SIDRAC. {Vide 
"Sidrac") 

BODEL, JEAN. A French poet of 
the thirteenth century, remem- 
bered mainly by his drama of 
St. Nicholas and an epic poem, 
Les Saisnes or Song of the Saxons 
{q.v.). Arras was his native town, 
and there he hved for a number of 
years, gaining his Uvehhood — as 
was the fashion among poets of 
the Middle Ages — by acting as a 
herald. He appears to have early 
acquired considerable fame, and 
to have been a jovial and reckless 
character ; yet it would seem that 
a strain of piety ran through his 
nature, for it is recorded that, 
about the year 1269, he com- 
menced making preparations to 
follow a body of crusaders to the 
Holy Land. It is possible, of 
course, that it was not reUgious 
ardour which prompted him to 
this step, and that he was simply 



BOD 

called upon to accompany the 
troops in his official capacity ; 
but be that as it may, his project 
was suddenly cut short by a 
terrible misfortune, unmistakable 
signs of leprosy now showing 
themselves on his hands and face. 
In accordance with the law of the 
time he had to cut himself off 
from all his relations and friends, 
but his townsfellows, moved by 
pity, procured him admittance to 
a lazar-house at Meulan. He was 
thus rescued from that life of 
wandering which was the sorry 
fate of so many lepers, yet the 
incarceration to which he was 
doomed henceforth was scarcely 
less terrible, and how deeply he 
suffered is shown by his poem, 
ies Conges, in which he bids a 
touching farewell to his old asso- 
ciates at Arras, aUke the rich who 
had patronized him, and the gay 
fellows with whom he had frater- 
nized in the taverns. Bodel is 
supposed to have spent the rest 
of lus days entirely at Meulan, and 
it was probably in that uncon- 
genial atmosphere that he penned 
the majority of his extant poems, 
these inclucHng a series of Pastorals 
besides the things cited above. 
Save for Les Congds, however, 
the writer's work is by no means 
tinged with the melancholy which 
would naturally imbrue the pro- 
ductions of a dweller in a lazar- 
house ; and, indeed, St. Nicholas, 
which is based on a story in The 
Apocrypha, contains several roUick- 
ing tavern scenes, each of them 
drawn with unflinching reaUsm, 
and being obviously based on the 
personal experience and observa- 
tion of the author. The piece is 
especially interesting, moreover, 
as being one of the first miracle 
plays in French hterature ; while 
as regards Les Saisnes, this has 
considerable historical as well as 



41 BON 

hterary value. It treats of one 
of Charlemagne's campaigns, and 
the writer is thought to have 
gleaned his information largely 
from early poems current in his 
day but now lost. Bodel 's descrip- 
tion of the threefold territory of 
romance is frequently quoted : — 
" Ne sont que trols matiferes k mil 

homme entendant, 
De France, et de Bretagne, et de 

Rome la grant." 

BOIARDO, MATTEO MARIE. Count 
of Scandiano, a famous ItaUan poet, 
was bom at Scandiano in Lom- 
bardy 1430-94, and educated at 
the Court of the Duke Borso 
d'Este, and was subsequently made 
Governor of Reggio (1478), then 
of Modena (1481), and once more 
of Reggio, shortly before his death, 
which occurred on 21st December, 
1494. The greatest of his poems 
is the Orlando Innamorato, based 
on the Charlemagne cycle. With 
a freshness and splendour of fancy, 
he portrays the loves of Orlando 
and the fair Angelica in a manner 
which gives the work perpetual 
popularity among lovers of fan 
tastic poetry. Between 1545 and 
the date of the editio princeps 
(1495), the poem appears to have 
been much relished, for it had 
passed through no fewer than 
sixteen editions. From then, and 
not until 1836, when Panizzi 
pubUshed an excellent edition, it 
was unpubUshed. It has been 
translated into most of the lan- 
guages of Western Europe. 

BOLFIANA. {Vide "Dietrich of 
Bern.") She was presented in 
marriage by King Ermenrich to 
Wittich {q.v.). 

BONDWIN, SIR. Brother to King 
Mark {q.v.) and father of Ahsander 
{q.v.). He was treacherously 
slain by Mark, who dispersed his 
dependents. {Vide "Morte 

d'Arthur.") 



BON 42 

BONIFACE. ( Vide ' ' Bevis of Hamp- 
ton.") Confidential chamberlain 
to Josyan at Mounbraunt. He 
assisted her and Bevis to escape 
from Inor, and was devoured by 
two lions when he was hiding 
Josyan. 

BOOK OF LEINSTER. An Irish manu- 
script of the twelfth century 
containing among other romances 
The Cattle Raid of Quelgny (q.v.). 

BOOK OF THE DUN COW. An Irish 
manuscript of about the year 
1100 A.D. In it the Legend of 
Tuan mac Carell [q.v.), the story 
of the reappearance of Cuchulain 
(q.v.), and The Voyage of Maeldun 
{q.v.) are given. 

BORGHILD. First wife of Sigmund 
(q.v.) and mother of Helgi (q.v.) 
and Hammund (q.v.). She 
poisoned Sinfjotli (q.v.), in con- 
sequence of which her husband 
destroyed her. (Vide "The Lay 
of the Volsungs.") 

BORS, KING. (Vide " Ba.n:') 

BORS, BOHORS or BOORT. A famous 
knight in the Arthurian cycle — 
associated with Sir Galahad and 
Lancelot in their quest of the 
Holy Grail. During this sojourn 
he is exhorted by a hermit to 
abandon the quest unless he can 
free himself from sin. He con- 
fesses and receives absolution from 
the holy man, and until the quest 
be finished he abjures all nourish- 
ment save bread and water. He 
achieves several notable feats, 
such as that of overcoming Priadam 
the Black, who is the champion of 
the oppressor of a castle, which 
once belonged to a lady whom Bors 
reinstates in her ownership. He 
refuses her hospitahty neverthe- 
less. On the morrow, he goes to 
the rescue of " a very fair maiden," 
whom he saves from her would-be 
ravisher. He reheves his brother. 



BRA 

among other things, and a pictur- 
esque incident during his quest is 
that related in which a young 
damsel offers him her love, and 
on his refusal threatens with twelve 
other damsels to throw herself 
from a tower. Bors, although 
full of the milk of human kindness, 
thinks they had better lose their 
souls than he his. They fall from 
the tower, Bors crosses himself, 
and the whole vanishes, being a 
deceit of the devil. His brother's 
corpse, shown him, is also proved 
to be a figment of the imagination. 
Then a hermit and a knight, 
Calogrenant, would fain stop him, 
and Bors is compelled to draw 
in self-defence, but a voice tells 
him to fiee, and a fiery brand comes 
from heaven between them. Bors 
follows the command of the voice 
directing him towards the sea, 
where Perceval awaits him. After 
the accompUshment of the quest 
and the deaths of Galahad and 
Perceval, Bors sets sail for Britain, 
and comes to Camelot where all 
are glad to welcome him ; he 
tells the adventures of the Holy 
Grail, which, according to the 
story, were written down and kept 
in the Abbey of Salisbury. 

BOV THE RED. King of the Danaans 
or Immortals of Munster, and 
brother of the Irish deity, Dagda. 
He figures in the mythical Irish 
" Book of Invasions," and was 
deeply skilled in magic and en- 
chantments. He it was who found 
the dream-maiden of Angus Og 
(q.v.), who had fallen sick of love 
for his visionary mistress. He 
had in his service a goldsmith 
named Len, who gave their name 
to the Lakes of KiUamey, once 
known as Locha Lein. 

BRADAMANTE. ( Vide " Orlando In- 
namorato " and " Orlando Pu- 
rioso.") Daughter to Amon, and 



BRA 43 

sister to Rinaldo(g'.'W.)- She formed 
an attachment for Rogero. She 
slew Pinabello for decoying her into 
Merlin's cave. Three kings, and 
Marphisa, were unhorsed by her. 
She married Rogero. 

BRADMOND KING OF DAMASCUS. 
(Vide " Bevis of Hampton.") 
Quarrelled with Ermyn because 
he could not get Josyan as wife, 
but was defeated. He kept Bevis 
a prisoner for seven years in 
Damascus. 

BRANDILES, SIR. A frequent visitor 
to the Court of Arthur. (Vide 
" Morte d'Arthur.") 

BRANWEN, DAUGHTER OF LLYR. 

A Welsh romance included in Lady 
Charlotte Guest's Mabinogion (q.v.) 
and originally found in the four- 
teenth century manuscript known 
as The Med Book of Hergest. It 
is connected with the story of 
Pivyll (q.v.) by the third in the 
series, that of Manatvyddan (q.v.). 
It tells how Bran the Blessed, son 
of Llyr, with his brother Mana- 
wyddan and his half-brothers 
Nissyen the peacemaker, and 
Evnissyen the mischief-maker, are 
seated one day on a rock by the 
sea at Harlech. They observe 
thirteen ships draw near the coast, 
one of which lands Matholwch, 
King of Ireland, who has come to 
crave the hand of Branwen, Bran's 
sister. Evnissyen, angered at his 
consent to Bran wen's marriage not 
having been asked, mutilates the 
horses of Matholwch, and the 
Irish king, deeply offended at the 
outrage, departs in his ships, but 
returns on being assured that 
Bran knew nothing of the affair, 
and that he is willing to make 
ample amends. Bran, noticing 
that Matholwch's mood is still 
heavy, gives him a magic cauldron 
which has the property of resusci- 
tating any dead warrior thrown 



BRA 

into it in a short space. He informs 
Matholwch that it was brought 
from Ireland by Llasas Llaesgyf ne- 
wid and his wife Kymideu Kymein- 
voU when they escaped from the 
white-hot iron house in that 
country. Matholwch is conver- 
sant with the rest of the story ; 
how one day he was sitting by a 
lake when a giant made his appear- 
ance followed by a still greater 
woman, and bearing a cauldron 
on his back ; how the woman was 
soon to give birth to a fully-armed 
warrior ; how these people became 
a pest in Ireland, and how they 
with their offspring were im- 
prisoned in an iron house which 
was made white-hot ; and how 
the man and his wife alone 
escaped, and came to Britain, 
where, Bran assures him, they have 
multiplied, and bred a race of 
mighty warriors. In this tale we 
are for the first time introduced 
to the family of Llyr, who, with 
that of Don and Pwyll, make up 
the four branches of the Mabinogi. 
The tale of the cauldron has 
undoubtedly been interpolated by 
the story-teller as one which might 
quite possibly be told by an Irish 
visitor, and may be equated with 
an incident in the Mesce Ulad, a 
tale of the Ulster heroic cycle. It 
has no real connection with the 
story of Branwen. Matholwch 
takes Branwen to Ireland, and all 
prospers for a twelvemonth, when 
the matter of the outrage on the 
horses is revived, and Branwen 
is ignominiously buffeted into the 
kitchen-quarters, where she is 
thrashed every morning by the 
butcher. This goes on for three 
years, and as all communication 
is cut off between Ireland and 
Britain Branwen cannot convey 
her sad condition to her brother. 
At last she contrives to rear a 
starling, which carries a letter to 



BRA 

Bran. He sets out for Ireland, 
his men by ship, he himseK wading 
through the ocean wlthhis musicians 
on his back. Matholwch and his 
men retreat across the Shannon 
which the Britons cross, using 
Bran's body as a bridge. The 
Irish surrender, but Bran will not 
come to terms until they promise 
to build for him a house large 
enough to hold him, a thing not 
before accomphshed. They resolve 
to make the house a trap, and 
men are concealed aroimd it in 
bags. Evnissyen, however, dis- 
covers this, and kills them all 
singly. Peace is on the point of 
being concluded in the great hall, 
when suddenly Evnissyen casts 
Branwen's child on the blazing 
fire. A dreadful slaughter ensues, 
and the Irish make use of the 
cauldron of regeneration, until 
Evnissyen, concealing himseK 
among the Irish slain, is thrown 
in and bursts it, breaking his own 
heart in the effort. Seven of the 
Britons escape, along with Bran, 
who is wounded by a poisoned 
lance. He requests the seven to 
cut off his head and to bury it in 
the White Hill (the site of the 
Tower), in London, with the face 
towards France. He tells them 
on the way back of the various 
hardships that they will endure 
before they arrive at London ; 
how they will feast for seven 
years at Harlech, while the birds 
of Rhiannon wiU sing to them, and 
that at Gwales in Pembroke they 
wiU rest eighty years, until one of 
them opens a door looking upon 
Cornwall. On landing in Britain, 
Bran wen, thinking of the misery 
she has unwittingly caused, dies of 
a broken heart. Bran's head is 
eventually buried in London. 
Ireland, we are told, was re- 
peopled by the offspring of five 
pregnant women, all that were 



44 



BRE 



left of the inhabitants on Bran's 
departure. This tale, it has been 
pointed out, bears analogies to 
the Gudrun and Nibelung cycles, 
and it is probable that the 
Brythonic inhabitants of Wales 
received it, or the outlines of it, 
from the Danish folk in Ireland, 
or those Danes who settled in the 
peninsula of Gower in Wales. 
But, probably only the form is 
Teutonic, not the matter. {Vide 
The Mabinogion, edited by Alfred 
Nutt.) 

BRASTIAS. {Vide " Ulfius.") 
BREA. The death-field of Finn 
{q.v.), the Ossianic hero. 

BRECON. In Irish romance. Great- 
grandfather of Miled, father of 
Ith {q.v.). His name is mentioned 
in the Milesian invasion of Ireland. 

BREKA. A Gothland warrior men- 
tioned in the legend of Beowulf 
{q.v.). Before Beowulf set out for 
Jutland to fight Grendel, Breka 
proposed that he and the hero 
should fight the monsters of the 
sea, to prove which of them was 
the better man. King Hygelak 
{q.v.) to give a gold chain to the 
victor. Breka returned to shore 
first, receiving the gold chain, but 
when Beowulf came he brought 
with him the dead body of a nixie 
whom he had slain in the sea, thus 
proving himself the greater warrior. 
Hygelak gave him his own sword, 
Nagling. 

BRENNOR, SIR. An evil knight and 
an oppressor of the Knights of 
the "Round Table." He was 
slain by Sir Tristram {q.v.). {Vide 
"Morted'Arthur.") 

BRES (1). In Irish romance, the 
Danaan {q.v.) representative sent 
to parley with the natives on the 
occasion of the entrance into 
Ireland of the People of Dana. 
He was slain in the Battle of 



BKE 

Moytura, .which settled the ques- 
tion of the superiority of the 
People of Light. 

BRES (2). Son of a Danaan woman 
Eri, by an unknown father. 
He was elected King of the 
Danaans in place of the muti- 
lated Nuada of the Silver Hand 
{q.v.). He failed, however, to 
uphold his people's superiority. 
In addition, he laid heavy taxes 
upon them, and refused hospitality 
to chiefs, nobles, and harpers. 
This refusal in the end cost him 
his kingship, for the poet Corpry 
(q.v.), being despicably housed in 
the royal Court, spread abroad a 
satire upon his host, and Nuada 
came into his own again. Bres 
then sought his mother, from whom 
he learned that his father was 
Glatha, a Fomorian king. Her 
lover had left with her a ring, and 
had bidden her give it to the man 
whose finger it fitted. This was 
Bres, and together they sailed 
for Glatha 's home. He recognized 
the ring, gave his son an army 
for the re-conquest of Ireland, and 
. sent him to seek further aid from 
the greatest of the Fomorian 
kings, Balor. Then ensued the 
second Battle of Moytura, between 
the Fomorians and the Danaans, 
in which the latter were decisively 
victorious. 

BRES (3). Son of Balor. In the Tale 
of the Quest of the Sons of Turenn 
(q.v.), Lugh {q.v.) is said to have 
advanced from the west, his face 
shining like the Sun. Bres won- 
dered why that day dawned on the 
west, tiU he was told that " yonder 
light came not from the sun, but 
from the face of Lugh." 

BRIAN (1), SIR. An evil knight who 
through his wickedness is deprived 
of his authority over the Castle 
Pendragon, which Sir Lancelot 
afterwards presented to Sir La 



45 



Cote Male-taile. 
d'Arthur.") 



BRI 

(Vide " Morte 



BRIAN (2) . In Irish romance, the chief 
of the three sons of Turenn (q.v.). 

BRICCRIU. (Sumamed "of the 
Poisoned Tongue.") A chief of 
Ulster, alluded to in the myth of 
Cuchulain in the Ultonian cycle 
of Irish romance. On one occasion 
he invited the heralds of the Red 
Branch (q.v.) to a feast, and 
instigated them to strife upon the 
vexed question as to who was the 
most renowned warrior in Ireland. 
The assembly selected ConaU, 
Laery, and Cuchulain, and a demon 
named " The Terrible " was sum- 
moned to decide the order of 
precedence. He gave it as his 
opinion that the most courageous 
man of the trio would best deserve 
the title of champion, and pro- 
posed that he who would cut ofE 
his (the demon's) head to-day and 
submit to having his own head 
cut off on the morrow would prove 
himself the bravest. Cuchulain 
decapitated the demon, who at 
once seized his head and dis- 
appeared. On the morrow he 
appeared in his usual shape to 
claim the right of beheading 
Cuchulain, who placed his head 
on the block, but the demon 
bade him arise, and acknowledged 
him champion of Erin. 

BRIOS. Alluded to in the Conte du 
Graal, as persuading Percival to 
join in the tourney held by Arthur 
at the Castle Orguellous, as he must 
have the prize of Knighthood before 
coming to the Castle of the Fisher 
King. Percival visits his castle 
and carries ofE the prize unknown . 

BRISIN. An enchantress, who plays 
an important part in the Annuncia- 
tion of Galahad, and the allure- 
ment of Lancelot (q.v.). (Vide 
" Morte d'Arthur.") 



6RI 

BRITAN. According to Irish story 
the chief of one of the three sur- 
viving Nemedian famiUes (vide 
" Nemed ") after the Fomorian 
iq.v.) victory. Tradition has it 
that he settled in Britain, and 
hence the name given to that 
country. 

BRITOMARTE. {Vide "Sir Ferum- 
bras.") Eefused to help Floripas 
to release Roland and Ohver from 
the dungeon at Laban's palace, 
and was killed by her in con- 
sequence. 

BROCELIANDE. A magic forest in 
Brittany connected with Arthurian 
romance. There it was that Merhn 
was enchanted by Nimue or 
Viviana (q.v.), Lady of the Lake, 
and imprisoned underneath a great 
stone. Wace (q.v.) actually tra- 
velled to the spot to " verify " its 
legends. The name " Broceli- 
ande " is often employed as typical 
of the mise en scene of romance, 
and as symbolic of the dim 
unreality of legendary scenery. 

BROIFFORT. Ogier's horse, which 
he had won in the Saracen wars, 
and which was renowned for its 
swiftness. ( Vide " Ogier the Dane.") 

BRONS, BRON, or HEBRON. In 

Grail romance brother-in-law of 
Joseph, whose sister Enygeus he 
married. They have twelve sons, 
about whom they are greatly con- 
cerned and demand of Joseph what 
is to be done with them. Joseph 
prays before the Holy Grail: 
eleven of them will marry and 
one remain single — this one is 
Alain (q.v.), to whom descended 
the custody of the Holy Grail. 

BROWN BULL. {Vide " Cattle Raid 
of Quelgny.") 

BRUILLANT. Mentioned in the 
Grand Saint Oraal as an enemy of 
Lambor (q.v.). Fighting with 



46 BRU 

Lambor, he is pursued to the sea- 
shore where he finds and enters 
Solomon's ship, where he discovers 
the Grail sword. With this he 
slays LamboV. But this use of 
the holy weapon was accompanied 
with great woes, for no wheat 
grew within Britain, nor fruit trees 
bare, nor was fish found in the 
waters. BruUlant feU dead as a 
punishment for using the sword. 

BRUNAMONT. King of Maiolgre 
(Majorca). A pagan monarch who 
arrived with 10,000 men to assist 
the Saracens against the army of 
Charlemagne in Italy. Corsuble, 
a Saracen Emir, offered him his 
daughter Glorianda who was be- 
trothed to Karaheut, King of 
India {q.v.), but the latter monarch 
succeeded in gaining her. {Vide 
" Ogier of Denmark.") 

BRUNHILD. ( Vide " Nibelungenhed " 
and " Volsunga Saga.") A valkyr 
or warrior-maiden, who was im- 
prisoned by Odin the Scandinavian 
deity, in a castle on Isenstein 
surrounded by flames. In the 
Volsunga Saga she is awakened 
by Sigurd, who pledges troth 
with her, only to forget her by 
reason of a magic draught. He 
again penetrates the flames in 
the shape of Guimar, for whom he 
succeeds in wnning Brunhild. 
She quarrels with Gudrun, the wife 
of Sigurd, and is instrumental in 
having him slain. In the Nibe- 
lungenlied she is won for Gunther 
by the wiles of Siegfried, who beats 
her in sports, she having agreed to 
marry the man who can conquer her 
at her favourite games. She quar- 
rels with Siegfried's wife, Kriem- 
hild, and compasses his death. 
The myth of her imprisonment is 
probably originally a nature-myth. 
She is the sun-maiden who sleeps 
the charmed sleep caused by the 
prick of the thorn of winter. 



6RU 



47 



BRUNSTEIN, KING. A character in 
the romance of Samson (q.v.), 
who succeeded to the throne of 
Salem after the death of his 
brother, Rodgeier. He also is 
slain by Samson. 

BRUT D'ANGLETERRE or LI RO- 
MANS DB BRUT. A chronicle of 
British pseudo-history, written by 
Richard Wace (q.v.) in French, of 
the early twelfth century, and 
based upon the famous British 
History of Geoffrey of Monmouth 
(q.v.) under Historia Begum Bri- 
tannice. The British histories are 
generally supposed to have been 
called Bruts from Brutus, the 
great-grandson of ^^neas, who 
is represented in them as the 
first king of the Britons. But it 
is more probable that the meaning 
of the word is " repute " or 
" rumour," in the sense of the 
expression " bruit " or news. The 
subject-matter of the poem practi- 
cally coincides with that of the 
Historia Begum Britannice {q.v.). 

Literature : Li Bomans de Brut, 
edited by Leroux de Lincy, 2 
vols., 1835-38. 

BRYANT OP CORN WALL, SIR. ( Vide 
" Bevis of Hampton.") A wicked 
favourite of Edgar, King of Eng- 
land, who was the origin of the 
cruel strife between Edgar and 
Sir Bevis. 

BRYER, SIR. (Vide "Sir Ferum- 
bras.") Duke of Brittany. A 
French Peer, one of the twelve 
sent as a delegate to demand 
Roland's Uberation. He was killed 
in a sally he made from Labans' 
palace when he was imprisoned 
there. 

BUDDVAN. (F«c?e "Gododin.") Son 
of Bleidovan the Bold. He was a 
Cymric warrior and was slain in 
the battle of Cattreath. "His 
armour has been thoroughly washed 
in his gore." 



BUR 

BULL FIGHT OF GANZUL, THE. 

This tale is one in which the 
dexterity of the Moorish cavaliers 
in the bull fight is described. 
King Almanzor of Granada sum- 
mons the Moorish Lords to a bull 
fight in honour of the Baptist's 
feast. Eight lords go into the 
ring and are defeated. Then come 
Ganzul, the Alcayd6 of Agalva, 
and the poem tells how he succeeds 
in fighting and killing three bulls, 
one of them, Harpado, being 
enormously strong and fierce. 

BURNT NJAL. An Icelandic ro- 
mance dating from the eleventh 
century. Njal was the most 
esteemed and beloved man in 
Iceland. He dwelt at Bergthors- 
knoll, and his ability in law was 
praised by everybody. His gentle 
disposition surrounded him with 
tnany friends, but chief among 
those was Gunnar of Lithend, the 
most famous warrior in Iceland. 
These two vowed lifelong friend- 
ship, a vow which they kept in 
spite of many difficulties, for 
Gunnar 's wife, Hallgerda and 
Njal's, Bergthora, were at ceaseless 
feud with each other, slaying and 
counter-slaying house-carles and 
freemen belonging to each. This 
enmity arose through HaUgerda 
telHng Bergthora, who was then 
her hostess, that she had thieves' 
fingers, Bergthora retahating by 
referring to HaUgerda 's murdered 
husbands. Gunnar was drawn 
into much strife on his wife's 
account. In famine time she stole 
from the store of the avaricious 
Otkell, for which theft Gunnar 
gave her a blow on the face. 
This insult she never forgot. By 
dint of Njal's wisdom the angry 
husband suffered no loss. But 
Otkell, unsatisfied with the court's 
decision, sought to slay Gunnar, 
himself, however, with his fawning 



BUR 

friend Skamkell, falling at his 
enemy's hands. Then the cunning 
Mord learnt that Njal had warned 
his friend not to slay twice in the 
same stock. He, therefore, advised 
Thorgeir who sought Gunnar's 
death, to incense Otkell's son, an 
honest and peace-loving youth, 
against their enemy. Their end 
was accomplished. Gunnar thrust 
his bill through the youth's body, 
and was accordingly banished from 
Iceland for three years. But his 
love for his home swelled so 
greatly within him as he set 
out for another land, that he 
was unable to leave Lithend. 
Mord, Thorgier, and Sigurd the 
White then plotted his destruction, 
which they accomphshed in his 
own home. With his bow-string 
broken, and with a scanty supply 
of arrows, Gunnar bade his wife 
twist two locks of her hair into a 
bow-string. Remembering the 
blow he had given her, she only 
laughed, and left him to his 
death. Gunnar's elder son Hogni 
then took upon him the manage- 
ment of the farm, while the hated 
Hallgerda was driven by her 
mother-in-law, Rannveig, to seek a 
home elsewhere. She, therefore, 
went to live with Thrain her son- 
in-law and took her son Grani 
with her. Hogni was destined 
to avenge his father's death, for 
one day as he laid his hand upon 
Gurmar's war-bill it sang so loudly 
that Rannveig knew that this son 
was the chosen avenger. With 
the aid of Skarp-hedinn, Njal's 
son, Hogni slew Thorgeir and 
three of the other suitors, Mord, 
however, receiving his hfe at a 
great price of money. Grim and 
Helgi, Njal's sons, went sea- 
roving about the Orkneys. Here 
they fell in with Kari, a viking, 
who generously succoured them 
in their need. He again lent his 



48 BUR 

aid when they sought his protec- 
tion from Yarl Hacon of Norway, 
for, being falsely accused of screen- 
ing a felon, Hrapp, who was con- 
cealed in Thrain's ship, Hacon 
would have put them to death. 
But the king made atonement to 
Njal's sons for all they had 
suffered unjustly, and they became 
his friends. Kari went home with 
them to Iceland, and they wedded 
their sister Helga to him. Now aU 
Thrain's household, which included 
Hrapp, all save his son Hanskuld, 
hated Njal's household. Insulted 
and reviled by their three enemies, 
Njal's sons and Kari slew Thrain 
and Hrapp, granting mercy, how- 
ever, to Grani. For this slaying 
Njal paid the blood-money, and 
having made friends with the 
generous-minded Hanskuld, took 
him back to BergthorsknoU as his 
foster-son. Elected the priest of 
White-ness, Hanskuld married 
HUdegunna, the beautiful but 
hard-hearted daughter of Kosi. 
But Mord hated Hanskuld as a 
rival priest, and when his father 
was dying he had promised him 
to revenge upon Skarp-hedinn 
their great loss of money in the 
Gunnar murder case. He, there- 
fore, set to work upon the destruc- 
tion of his enemies . Making friends 
with both by lying tale-bearing 
he incensed Njal's sons and Kari 
against Hanskuld, and with them 
fell upon him. For this foul 
murder the sorrowing Njal sought 
to pay a large fine and thus 
to keep the peace. But with 
mutual insults Plosi and Skarp- 
hedinn refused the money 
decision. Then Hanskuld's father- 
in-law gathered together a large 
company, including Grani, and 
set fire to Bergthors-KnoU. Njal, 
Bergthora, Skarp-hedinn, Grim 
and Helgi's little son were all 
burnt, while Helgi, seeking to 



CAE 

escape, was slain by Flosi. Kari, 
however, did escape, and with the 
now satisfied Mord as pleader 
sought redress for the burning. 
But the case dwindling into a 
question of contempt of court on 
the part of Mord or his opponent, 
Kari and his men laid about 
them in the court, where several 
persons were slain. The Thing 
then settled the question, and sent 
into banishment or outlawry Flosi 



49 GAL 

and the burners. Flosi fared home, 
did penance there, and received 
absolution from the Pope's own 
hands . Then he returned to S wine- 
feld, his home. Driven by storm 
on his enemy's shore, Kari yet 
sought Flosi's assistance, and 
was kindly received and cared 
for. The two foes then became 
friends, and some time after 
Helgi's death Kari married Hilde- 
gunna. 



CAER. Daughter of Ethal Anubal, 
Prince of the Danaans of Con- 
naught, loved by Angus Og (q.v.), 
and mentioned in the Irish mythi- 
cal books. She Uved, year about, 
in the form of a maiden and a 
swan, and upon calling to her, 
Angus found himself transformed 
into a swan. He joined her, and 
all who heard the rapturous music 
uttered by the swan-lovers were 
plunged into a deep sleep lasting 
for three days and nights. 

CAERLEON (near Carhsle). A town 
mentioned in the Morte d' Arthur 
as the chief seat of Arthur's 
court. 

CAIAPHAS. Alluded to in the Grand 
St. Ctraal as the jailor of Joseph of 
Arimathea (q.v.). He permitted 
Joseph to starve, but Christ 
supphed his necessities. Caiaphas 
was latterly set adrift in a boat. He 
is, of course, the Caiaphas men- 
tioned in Scripture as the High 
Priest of the Jews. 

CAIRBRY. In Irish romance, son 
of Cormac mac Art (q.v.), and 
High-King of Ireland. Father of 
Sgeim Solais (q.v.). 

CALATIN CLAN. A noisome mul- 
tiform creature composed of a 



father and his twenty-seven sons, 
any one of whose weapons would 
bring to his death in nine days 
the man who was but grazed by 
it. This hideous monster was sent 
against Cuchulain (q.v.), and 
hurled at him its eight and twenty 
spears which he, however, caught 
on his shield. But as he was 
about to lop off the spears the 
clan threw him down and ground 
his face in the gravel. Fiacha, 
son of Firaba, an Ulster exile, 
indignant at the unequal combat, 
then cut off their heads, when 
Cuchulain hacked the creature 
to pieces. But again was a mon- 
ster loosed against the Hound of 
Cullan. This was the posthu- 
mous three sons of three daughters, 
bom at a birth, of the wizard 
Calatin. These Maev (q.v.) had 
sent through Ireland and Alba 
and as far as Babylon to learn 
the magic arts, that she might 
revenge herself upon the Ulster 
hero. Then did the children of 
Calatin fall upon the mind of 
Cuchulain and conjure up horror, 
despondency and apparitions of 
war. And in the form of Niam 
(q.v.), the Sorceress Bave (q.v.) 
bade the warrior arouse himself 
to rescue Ulster. 



CAL 

CALAYNOS THE MOOR. This Spanish 
tale is believed to be one of the 
most ancient, and certainly was 
among the most popular of all 
the ballads in the Cancionero, or 
Spanish Booh of Romances. Calay- 
nos, wishing to win the favour of 
a maid of Spain, offers her gold 
and riches. These she refuses 
and asks for the heads of certain 
peers — Ronald's and Ohver's. 
The ballad then narrates how 
Charlemagne is met when at the 
chase by a Moor, who brings 
defiance to every lord on behalf 
of Calaynos. A knight. Sir Bald- 
win, takes up the challenge, and 
fights Calaynos, who strikes him 
down. Then another knight, Sir 
Ronald (uncle to Sir Baldwin), 
on seeing his kinsman fall, caUs 
Calaynos to combat. They fight 
and Calaynos is killed. 

CARADOC OF LLANCARVEN. A 

Welsh author of the twelfth cen- 
tury, alluded to by Geoffrey of 
Monmouth in the epilogue to his 
Historia Begum Britannice (q.v.), 
as " my contemporary." To him 
Geoffrey leaves the task of writing 
" the deeds of the kings who 
succeeded in Wales " from the 
date at which his history closes 
to the period in which he flourished. 
The work hinted at by Geoffrey, 
if it was ever written, is not now 
extant, and one which bears the 
name of Caradoc, and the date, 
1156, is generally regarded with 
suspicion. It is hkely, however, 
that the Latin Life of Gildas, 
found in the twelfth century MS. 
in the library of Corpus Christi 
College, Cambridge, is his. It 
presents several aspects of the 
Arthurian legend, which are not 
to be found in Geoffrey's work. 
In its pages Gildas is alluded to 
as a contemporary of Arthur. His 
brother Hueil, King of Scotland, 



50 CAR 

fought a battle with Arthur in the 
"Isle of Minau" (Man?), and 
was slain. But Gildas, true to 
his saintly character, pardoned 
Arthur the slaying of his brother. 
The incident is described in the 
Mdbinogion story of Kulhwch and 
Olwen. The Ldfe also relates the 
story of the abduction of Guine- 
vere by Melwas, King of the 
Summer Country (see Chevalier 
de la Gharrette), who carried her 
to Glastonbury, where he was 
besieged by Arthur. But strife 
between the kings was avoided 
by the good ofi&ces of Gildas. 
(Cf. Rhys, Arthurian Legend.) 

CARADY, Count of. {Vide " Gu- 
drun Lay," first division of, under 
heading " Hagen.") He rescued 
Hagen {q.v.) and his three girl 
companions from the coast where 
the griffin H had carried them. 
The count had suffered loss at 
the hands of Hagen's father, King 
Sigebant, and wished to keep 
Hagen as a hostage, but the latter 
fought and conquered the count, 
and carried him to Ireland, where 
he became reconciled to Sigebant. 

CARAHIES. The brother of Gau- 
vain. His adventures are given 
at length in Gautier's portion of 
the Conte du Oraal, but are of no 
importance in connection with the 
GraU legend. 

CARCHELOIS, CASTLE OF. According 
to Grail romance, situated in the 
March of Scotland. The inmates 
attack Sir Galahad and his com- 
panions, but all are slain by him. 
On Sir Galahad expressing con- 
trition to a priest, he is told they 
are aU heathens, and that' he had 
done a good deed, as the three 
knights who had held the castle 
had ravished their sister and done 
their father, Coimt Ernous, to 
death. 



CAR 51 

CARDUEL. Famous as the spot 
where Sir Perceval demanded 
knighthood of King Arthur, and 
from where the Eed Knight — 
whom Sir Perceval defeated — 
carried ofE King Arthur's cup for 
the fifth time. (Vide " Sir Percy- 
velle.") 

CARTAGE OF NIMES. ( Fiie " Charroi 
de Nimes.") 

CASTLE DANGEROUS. ( Vide " Morte 
d'Arthur.") The home of the 
Knight of the Red Laundes (q.v.), 
an oppressor of good knights. 

CATHEAD. A druid who was over- 
heard by Cuchnlain (q.v.) to say 
that the youth who should take 
up arms upon that day he spoke 
would become Erin's champion, 
but would spend a short life 
(c/. Achilles). He prophesied 
that Deirdre (q.v.) should be the 
fairest woman in Ireland, that 
she should wed a king, and that 
through her ruin should fall upon 
Ulster. He figures in the Ulto- 
nian cycle of Irish myth. 

CATHELOYS. Alluded to in the 
Grand Saint Graal as one of the 
Kings and Keepers of the Grail. 

CATTLE RAID OF QUELGNY, THE. 

A famous Irish poem, in which 
Cuchulain (q.v.), the great Ulster 
hero, figures. (Vide "Maev.") 

CELIDOINE. In Grail romance, son 
of Nasciens and ancestor of Sir 
Galahad and Lancelot. It is re- 
lated of him that he knew the 
" stars in their courses," and was 
seen in Lancelot's vision sur- 
rounded by stellar bodies, and that 
nine streams issued from his body, 
representing nine descendants, of 
whom seven were kings and two 
knights. In romance " he was 
the first King of Scotland " (sic). 

CHANAAN. A companion of Joseph, 
alluded to in the Grand Saint Graal. 



CHA 

A white hart, accompanied by 
four stags, led Joseph's band 
across a great water, all except 
Chanaan, who crossed later in a 
fisherman's boat. Enraged that 
the Graal refused him sustenance, 
Chanaan slew twelve of the band. 
After death his grave burst out in 
fiames which might not be quench- 
ed till the coming of Lancelot. 

CHANSONS DE GESTE, The old 
French epical poems, written in 
the dialect of the north, or langiie 
d'dil, and having for their subject- 
matter the adventures and pseudo- 
history of Charlemagne, and his 
twelve peers. They are the oldest 
examples of elaborate verse in 
any modem language, with the 
exception of Enghsh and Norse, 
and the last to become known to 
modem critics. Homogeneous 
and well-marked in character, 
they date in time from the 
eleventh to the thirteenth century, 
with a few stragghng examples in 
the fourteenth ; but the forms in 
which we possess most of them 
are comparatively late and un- 
original. They " stand in a real, 
positive, ancestral relation to all 
modem Hterature ; there is some- 
thing of them in all the poetry of 
Europe." 

Designated matiere de France by 
the trouvere Jean Bodel (q.v.), they 
are intimately connected with 
the pseudo -history of that country, 
even as the Arthurian cycle, 
called matiire de Bretagne by the 
same singer, deals in part with 
the mythi-history of our own 
island. More racy and more ro- 
mantic than the romance pure and 
simple, they were in the aggregate 
less human, and the softer pas- 
sions are less insisted upon in 
their pages. The style is simple, 
to suit a mixed audience and the 
necessities of vocal interpretation. 



CHA 

and thus dramatic subtlety is 
seldom achieved. There is a 
strong family resemblance in the 
hterary machinery employed in 
all these tales, and this is also the 
case as regards their psychology. 
The theory that they owed their 
origin to the fabulous Chronicle of 
Archbishop Turpin of Rheims, 
the warrior-priest of Charlemagne, 
is now discredited, as that monk 
is known to be later in date than 
the majority of the chansons. 
Another discarded hypothesis is 
that which would refer their 
origin to earHer ballads on the 
same theme. But not a trace 
of such ballads has been dis- 
covered. 

Singularly complete in form, the 
older poems are written in batches 
of Hnes varying from one to 
several score, each of which de- 
rives unity from an assonant 
vowel-rhyme. These are known 
as laisses or tirades. Later, this 
assonance was discarded in favour 
of rhyme, the entire laisse ending 
with one rhyme-sound. StiU 
later, the decasyllabic line gave 
way to the Alexandrine ; but 
the substitution of rhyme for 
assonance, and of the twelve- 
syllabled for the ten-syUabled line 
were all the mechanical changes 
admitted by the chansons in the 
space of three hundred years. 

In these poems the character of 
Charlemagne, as has been pointed 
out in the article which deals with 
his personahty, plays a part which 
can scarcely be designated heroic ; 
but he is ever the head and front 
of Christendom against the 
Saracens, if at home he is capri- 
ciously savage and tyrannical and 
not a httle pusillanimous. His 
peers are the more romantic 
figures — Roland, OUver, Naymes, 
Ogier, WiUiam of Orange ; and 
concerning one or other of these 



52 CHA 

the numerous chansons, which 
circle round the figure and court 
of the aged emperor are written. 
Three principal subjects may be 
enumerated around which the 
various chansons appear to cry- 
stallise : the deeds of Charle- 
magne himself ; those of Garin, 
which includes the exhaustive 
sub-cycle of WiUiam of Orange 
{q.v.), and the doings of the here- 
ditary princeHngs and peers of 
Charles's period, and those of his 
enemies, such as Ogier the Dane. 

Of these poems, M. Leon Gau- 
tier has pubhshed a list of no 
less than one hundred and 
ten, the average length of 
which is probably six thousand 
lines each, without later additions 
and interpolations. Of this enor- 
mous body of verse about half 
the total number dates from the 
twelfth century, the most es- 
teemed examples being Aliscans 
Aspremont, Battaille Loquifer, 
Charroi de Nimes, Covenant Vivien, 
Garin the Lorrainer, Huon de 
Bordeaux, Ogier, Eenovart, Moniage 
Quillaume, Song of the Saxons, and 
the Voyage of Charlemagne (all of 
which see). By far the larger 
portion of the remainder date 
not later than the thirteenth 
century, and of these the most 
outstanding are : Enfances Vivien, 
Fierahras, Garin de Montglane, 
The Four Sons of Aymon, and the 
Departement des Enfants Aimeri 
(q.v.). The Song of Roland dates 
from the end of the eleventh 
century. 

Most of this immense body of 
verse remains unprinted, and no 
very systematic attempt has been 
made to embody it into a corpus. 
A few of the poems are in Pro- 
ven9al, but all attempts to refer 
the entire cycle in its original 
condition to that language have 
signally failed. The great mass 



CHA 

of the work is entirely anony- 
mous. Here and there in the 
MSS. we encounter names which 
may be those of the authors or 
copyists or of the jongleurs who 
sang their productions. The 
chansons of Richard the Pilgrim — 
Les Chetifs, Antioche, and Jeru- 
satem, were refashioned by Graindor 
of Douai. Garin the Lorrainer 
was the work of Jehan de Flagy, 
and the Song of the Saxons that 
of Jean Bodel (q.v.). Aden6s 
le Roi remodelled parts of Ogier 
and other chansons. There are 
other names — ^the shadows of sha- 
dows — Bertrand of Bar sur Aube, 
Raimbert of Paris, Pierre de Rieu, 
Gerard d'Amiens, Brianchon, 
Nicolas of Padua, Gautier of 
Douai, GuiUaume de Bapaume, 
Huon de ViUeneuve, Herbert de 
Dammartin — of the owners of 
which nothing is known except 
the name. 

" They lived their golden day. 
They sang — and passed away." 

But those of them who wrote 
assisted in the erection of a 
palace of song, fantastic and 
precious, into which the literary 
Europe of to-day is entering as 
upon a splendid inheritance. 

On the coming of the romance 
proper, degradation followed, and 
the chansons de geste were forced 
into the market-place and the 
scullions' hall. But many of the 
better examples continued their 
hold on the upper ranks of society. 
Reading came into fashion, and 
the chansons, once invariably sung 
or declaimed, were transferred to 
written books. Here and there 
we discover romance invading 
the domain of the chansons, 
from which the romance-writers 
were not disinclined to borrow. 
But gradually they dropped out 
of pubHc favour, as did their 
themes, until such time as the 



53 CHA 

genius of Boiardo, Pulci and 
Ariosto was called to clothe their 
dry bones with sweet flesh, and 
make resound a new music which 
was to the magnificent sea- 
surge of their heroic laisses as the 
horns of Oberon to the clamour 
of trumpets in the day of battle. 

Full bibliographical notes wiU be 
found at the end of each article 
deahng with the numerous chan- 
sons de geste noticed in this work. 

CHAPEL PERILOUS. {Vide " Morte 
d'Arthur.") Mentioned in the quest 
of the Holy Grail, when Lancelot 
(q.v.) enters the chapel to meet 
with the body of King Evalach 
(q.v.). 

CHARLEMAGNE, Carolus Mag- 
nus, or Karl der Grosse, the 
greatest of Prankish Kings, and 
the first Teutonic monarch to 
have conferred upon him the 
dignity of Roman Emperor. He 
was the elder son of Pepin the 
Short, and succeeded, on the death 
of his father in 768 A.D., to a 
kingdom which extended from 
the Low Countries to the borders 
of Spain. On the death of his 
brother Karlmann he seized Bur- 
gundy, Alsace, and Provence from 
his nephews, and later plunged 
into a war against the Saxon 
tribes dweUing between the Rhine, 
Weser, and Elbe, which continued 
for a generation. Lombardy, 
Switzerland, and Bavaria soon 
acknowledged the Frankish rule, 
and thousands of hostile Saxons 
were forced to submit to Christian 
baptism. Charles intervened in 
the affairs of the Spanish Moors 
by assisting the Abbasside faction 
against the Ommiad Caliph of 
Cordova, but was recalled from 
the peninsula by the great in- 
surrection of Wittikind on the 
Rhine. It was on the way back 
from Spain to quell this revolt 



CHA 



54 



that the ambuscade of his rear- 
guard took place at Eoncesvaux, 
by Basques of the Pyrenees, and 
not by "Saracens," as related in 
the Song of Roland (q.v.) and 
elsewhere.- Successful in campaigns 
against the Slavs of the Elbe and 
Oder and the Huns, Charles was 
hard pressed by the apostasy and 
revolt of the Saxons, and the 
invasion of Aquitaine by the 
Saracens in 793. Three years 
later the celebrated KaroUne 
Books, inveighing against heresy 
and idolatry, were pubUshed after 
the Council of Frankfort, and in 
800 Charles was crowned King of 
the Romans for assisting and 
countenancing Pope Leo III. On 
the dawning of the ninth century 
the inroads of the various pagan 
races dweUing on his frontiers 
indicated to the emperor the 
necessity for remaining strictly 
on the defensive, and he cemented 
peace with them. In 811 he 
crowned Hlodowiz, his only re- 
maining son, as emperor, and 
thenceforth gave himself up to 
good works and devotional exer- 
cises. He died at Aix-la-ChapeUe 
on Jan. 28, 814, and was buried 
there. His life, by his secretary, 
Eginhard, depicts him as simple, 
desirous for the promotion of learn- 
ing, affectionate in family affairs, 
and deeply rehgious. He was 
undoubtedly the most powerful 
monarch of his time in Europe, 
a wise legislator, and he ruled his 
extensive empire with justice and 
liberal-mindedness. He possessed 
a keen sense of his duty as the 
defender of Christendom, strongly 
menaced in his day, and is to be 
regarded as the relentless foe of 
the heathendom by which he was 
surrounded. 

A very different picture is 
drawn of him in the chansons de 
geste (q.v.), which purport to 



CHA 

chronicle many , of the circum- 
stances of his reign. In these he 
is depicted as a ferocious and 
capricious tyrant, gulhble and 
irascible, ever ready to hearken to 
traitors, and act upon their 
advice with unrelenting harshness 
even where his own family are 
concerned. His heroism is dubious, 
and in many of the chansons he is 
drawn as pitifully deficient in all 
manly qualities. In others, how- 
ever, an impressive picture is 
afforded, which exhibits him as 
a venerable, white-bearded poten- 
tate, surrounded by a glittering 
court, the defender and champion 
of the Cross, and the deadly foe 
of heathenesse. Which of the 
portraits as outhned by contem- 
porary history or the chansons is 
the more correct, it would probably 
be fruitless to inquire. The pro- 
babiUty is that both contain a 
portion of the truth, and that by 
fusing the two accounts we can 
procure something like a picture 
of the real Charlemagne — a man 
and monarch of his age, with all 
its rude virtues and its ruder 
passions. 

(Vide " Chansons de Geste," and 
the various romances alluded to in 
that article.) 

CHARLEMAGNE CYCLE. (Vide 
"Chansons de Geste.") 

CHARLES THE CRETE, LYFE OF. 

Is a translation by William Caxton 
from French histories. It de- 
scribes how Charles inherited the 
kingdom of France on the death 
of his father Pepin. His brother, 
who also would have shared with 
him the sovereignity of that vast 
empire, died, thus leaving Charles 
supreme master of his inheritance. 
His labours for the Church of 
Rome were unceasing during the 
whole period of his illustrious 
reign ; and at a very early date 



CHA 

after his ascension to the throne 
he was chosen Emperor of Rome 
by Pope Leo III. (a.d. 800). 
According to Turpin, Charles was 
over eight feet in height, stout 
and broad-shouldered, and large of 
limb. He wore a beard a foot 
long, and his complexion was fair, 
his eyes bright and sparkling. His 
waist measured eight feet in cir- 
cumference. For strength he had 
no equal. He could Hft an armed 
knight with one hand ; he was 
hberal td aU, just and merciful, 
and careful in his language. 
Charles had his sons taught 
reUgion and science, and his 
daughters were trained to use the 
needle, and in the duties of the 
home. Churches were built at 
his command and endowed 
with imperial liberahty ; he was 
never idle, but fond of study. 
The weKare of his subjects was 
jealously guarded and commis- 
sioners were sent to study and 
report on the state of his kingdom 
and the laws of other nations. 
The Saracen nations were his 
greatest foes, and his whole reign 
of thirty-three years was marked 
by repeated excursions into pagan 
lands for the purpose of crushing 
their heathen spirit. By these 
acts of Christian valour he met 
with the approval of the whole 
Cathoho world. 

The siege of Jerusalem by the 
Saracens causes him to hasten to 
the aid of the patriarch of that 
city. With a huge army he enters 
the Holy Land and puts the Sara- 
cens to flight. The thankful patri- 
arch presents the imperial de- 
Uverer with the sacred crown of 
thorns, and also a piece of the 
Holy Cross, with the holy napkin 
and other relics. With these 
sacred treasures he returns to his 
people, and, by their aid, performs 
many miracles. Roland, nephew 



53 CHA 

to Charles, and one of his faithful 
knights, accuses his uncle of 
sneering at him. The emperor 
in his rage strikes his nephew on 
the cheek with his glove. Roland 
immediately draws his sword : 
Charles orders his nephew to be 
seized : his knights hesitate to 
execute their royal master's orders, 
but Ogier, a faithful paladin, inter- 
poses and brings , about a recon- 
ciliation. 

Pierabras, a Saracen chief, who 
continuously harassed the Chris- 
tians, sends a challenge to the 
court of Charles. OUver, a brave 
knight, accepts it, much to Charles' 
displeasure. The duel, which is 
of a very sanguinary nature, lasts 
for some considerable time. The 
Saracen chief, nevertheless, dis- 
plays a noble chivalry equalled by 
his valorous opponent. Oliver 
loses his sword. The French 
knights would have rushed on 
Fierabras ; but Charles holds them 
back, while the cool Saracen offers 
to pick up the fallen weapon for 
his rival. Oliver, however, refuses 
the chivalrous advance. Their 
shields are next destroyed, followed 
by the loss of their helmets. 
Oliver's horse is slain under him, 
and the sanguinary battle is con- 
tinued on foot. Charles threatens 
to destroy every church in the 
land, should Ohver lose his hfe, 
while the wounded combatants 
engage in a sportive conversation. 
Finally the Saracen is brought to 
the ground. He then discloses a 
plot laid by his accomplices, and 
a formal truce is declared between 
the heroes. No sooner is the 
treaty sealed than OUver and num- 
bers of French knights are carried 
away to a dungeon. Floripas, a 
beautiful maiden, hears their cries, 
and offers to rescue them pro- 
vided they grant her a request : this 
Ohver pledgesto do, and thedamsel 



CHA 

straightway releases them. Flori- 
pas heals Oliver's wounds with a 
magic draught. Charles about 
this time sends Roland and six 
other paladins on an embassy to 
the treacherous Balan, who, on the 
other hand, despatches fifteen 
knights to demand the release of 
Fierabras. Charles' messengers 
meet with Balan's : Maradas, 
the chief of the rival embassy, 
challenges the French paladins : 
the result is that all the Saracens 
are slain but one. Roland, pur- 
sues his mission, and on arriving 
at the court of Balan, presents 
him with the heads of his ambas- 
sadors. Much iU luck befalls 
Charles and his army during these 
incidents, and he very prudently 
orders a retreat. As he does so, 
he sees Richard approaching in his 
direction. Richard, who is an 
ally of the emperor, informs Charles 
how and where his noble knights 
are imprisoned. Charles disguises 
himself as a merchant, and fol- 
lowed by a similarly attired host 
sets out for Martrible, a town 
which he reaches, and slays its 
defender Galafre. He enters the 
captured city and cuts down the 
aggressive giant Ampleon. The 
Saracens then release their pri- 
soners, and Ganelon and Fierabras 
are highly commended for their 
valorous assault of the city. The 
giant's children are baptized. 

On hearing of this defeat, Balan, 
in his rage, smashes the image of 
the god Mahoun, and hurries off 
to encounter the vaHant emperor. 
The two warriors meet in combat, 
and Balan is defeated. He re- 
nounces paganism. 

Saint James appears to Charles 
in a dream and bids him go and 
conquer GaUcia. Its Saracen 
defender, Pampeluna, is captured 
by a miracle, as is the town of 
Lucerne by a similar miracle. 



56 CHA 

Charles destroys the idols of his 
enemy, but Salancadys, an image 
which he had overlooked, drops a 
symboHc key as a sign of Christian 
conquest and victory over its 
worshippers. The Saracens are 
next routed at Argolant ; Gascony 
is invaded, and under disguise 
Charles marches to Ageime, a 
town which he captures, but 
Pampelima, who had previously 
promised to observe the order of 
baptism, refuses to submit to it, 
and consequently is slain by 
Charles. 

The King of Navarre, who had 
also defied the Frankish monarch's 
rule, receives a crushing humUia- 
tion. A battle between Roland 
and Ferragus takes place ; the 
latter is slain : the former soon 
after dies. Charles laments over 
the loss of his faithful knight, and 
orders Ganelon, who is beheved to 
have incited the duel, to be put to 
death. {Vide " Roland and Ferra- 
gus.") The emperor, in great 
sadness of heart, retires to Aeon, 
where he dies at the age of 72 
years, leaving behind him three 
sons and the same number of 
daughters. 

Charles is buried with great 
magnificence in a tomb over which 
is set a figure of himself crowned 
and seated on his throne. 

Caxton, in his Lyfe of Charles, 
divides his biography into three 
books. The first treats of the 
emperor's youth. The second por- 
tion relates the duel between 
Ohver and Fierabras. The third 
part deals with the conquest of 
Spain by Charles, of the treason 
of Ganelon, and of the emperor's 
death. 

CHARLOT. (See " Ogier the Dane.") 

CHARROI DE NIMES. (The Cartage 
of Nimes.) A romance of the 
William of Orange sub-cycle of the 



CHA 

Charlemagne saga. (F*«?e" William 
of Orange.") It is by far the 
most vigorous and remarkable 
poem of the series. It tells how 
WiUiam of Orange took Nimes by 
" the mounted car," how he con- 
quered the city of Orange, and 
had Guibor baptized, whom he 
took from " King Tybalt the 
Slavon " (who in other romances 
figures as a " Saracen "), and 
married as his wife. WiUiam re- 
proaches the King (Louis) for his 
ingratitude, as the monarch has 
gifted almost all his inheritances 
away, and has taken no thought 
of him who has done such deeds 
for Prance and the throne. For 
him there is no gift of honour, his 
men die of hunger, his hair is 
white, and he is xinprovided for. 
Louis offers him the lands of 
orphans and widows, but WiUiam 
scorns to Usten to such proposals. 
The king then offers him a fourth 
of his kingdom, and William is 
about to retire in disgust at the 
weakling's meaningless proposal, 
when Bertram advises him to ask 
a fief which none would dispute 
with him, to wit, Spain (meaning 
those provinces of Southern France 
at that time in the hands of the 
Saracens). The king consents. 
WiUiam coUects thirty thousand 
poor knights without estates. At 
Puy the host faU in with a viUein 
leading a cart on which is a barrel 
fiUed with salt. Gamier, a knight, 
observes that with a thousand 
such barrels the French could take 
Nimes . WiUiam seizes aU the carts , 
barrels, and oxen in the fields on 
which he can lay hands, and the 
knights attire themselves in the 
garb of peasants. Thus disguised, 
they enter the city as merchants 
from Canterbury. WiUiam is 
brought before the king of the 
Saracens, who mocks him, and a 
certain Herpin puUs his beard. 



57 CHA 

WiUiam reveals himself, and 
attacks the Paynim. His knights, 
concealed within the barrels, 
which he has brought into the town, 
rush forth from their hiding- 
places and make great slaughter. 
WiUiam kills Herpin with a blow 
of his fist. He seizes the Mng, and 
casts him from a tower, and the 
town is taken. Trogus Pompeius 
teUs of a simUar strategem, by 
which King Comanus took Mar- 
seiUes, and mentions a like device 
at Treves in 1017. Jonckbloet 
attributes the taking of Nimes to 
WiUiam I. of Provence. 

CHATELAINE OF VERGI, THE. A 

French romance, probably of the 
twelfth century. In high favour 
with the Duke of BurguMy, in 
the days of this story, was a noble 
and brave knight. Secretly he 
cherished, and was cherished by, 
his master's niece, the Chatelaine 
of Vergi. In the shades of night 
they met and told o'er their tale of 
love ; but the lady made covenant 
that none should know their 
sweet secret. Now, the duchess 
yearned after this knight, and, as 
he refused her love, falsely accused 
him to the duke. Exile from his 
native land and from his sweet 
friend now awaited the knight, 
or he must break his covenant 
with the chatelaine. Urged by 
the duke's promises of secrecy, 
he therefore opened his heart to 
his lord, who witnessed that night 
the tender meeting of the lovers. 
But the duchess had noted with 
what favour her husband treated 
this despiser of her love, and by 
her woman's wiles drew the secret 
from her trusting lord. Death, 
however, he told her, would imme- 
diately ensue, were she to breathe 
a syUable of the tale. She now 
sought an opportunity to humi- 
liate her servant. This occasion 



CHE 58 

came at the Feast of Pentecost. 
The duchess showed the chate- 
laine that her secret was known, 
whereupon the unhappy lady 
sought the tiring chamber, and 
having bewailed her betrayed love, 
tightly clasped her arms over her 
breast and died. Dead her 
knight found her there, and learn- 
ing the truth from a maiden who 
had lain at the foot of the bed 
imperceived by the heart-broken 
chatelaine, found death upon his 
own sword. The maiden sped 
to the duke and showed him what 
had happened. Without a word 
he sought his wife and smote her 
on the head with the knight's own 
sword. The dancing and mirth 
were changed to weeping, while 
the duke told o'er the sad tale of 
these lovers. And nevermore he 
smiled, but took the Cross and 
became a Knight Templar far 
from his own land. 

CHEVALIER DE LA CHARRETTE, 

LE. (Knight of the Cart.) A 
romance written in French by 
Chretien de Troyes in the latter 
part of the twelfth century, but 
completed by another hand. The 
matter it contains has been trans- 
ferred almost Uterally into the 
prose Lancelot. It is the first 
piece of hterature which deals 
with the adventures of Sir Lancelot 
du Lac. It tells how Guinevere 
is abducted by Meleagaunt, son 
of the king of a land whence no 
man returns, and in these dramatis 
personcB we can descry the same 
figures who appear in the Latin 
Life of Cfildas, preserved in a 
twelfth-century MS. in the Library 
of Corpus Christi College, Cam- 
bridge, in which Guinevere is 
alluded to as having been ab- 
ducted by one Mel was. She is 
rescued in Chretien's poem by 
Lancelot, who is compelled for 



CHR 

the sake of strategem to ride in a 
cart used to convey prisoners to 
execution, hence his nickname of 
"The Knight of the Cart." In 
this romance the Queen is repre- 
sented for the first time as the 
lady love of Lancelot, and, accord- 
ing to Chretien's own account, he 
got the material of his poem from 
Marie de Champagne, who was 
probably deeply versed in the love- ^ 
lore of the Courts of Gallantry of / ' 
her day. See the edition of Qire- 
tien's works by Dr. W. Forster 
(vol. iv.). It is obvious that a 
myth of considerable antiquity 
underhes this romance, probably 
evolved from an incident in which 
the wife of the sun-god or " Son 
of the Sun " is abducted, and taken 
to the Land Whence no one Re- 
turns (the west, or place of the 
setting sun), by a son of its 
monarch, or, perhaps the monarch 
himself. This land is also alluded 
to as " the Summer Country," 
possibly Somerset. 
CHILDHOOD OF WILLIAM. (See 
" Enfance GuUlaume.") 

CHILDREN OF LIR. (See " Lir.") 

CHRETIEN DE TROYES. Sometimes 
styled Chrestien or Cretien, a 
French poet of the Middle Ages, 
possibly the originator of the 
Grail poems. His name indicates 
that he was a native of Troyes, a 
small village in Champagne ; and 
it is commonly supposed that, 
like the majority of mediaeval 
troubadours, he was a herald by pro- 
fession. Nevertheless, his career, 
and even the date of his birth, 
are wrapped in mystery, but he 
himself records that he was a 
proteg6 of Philip Augustus, Count 
of Flanders and Vermandois ; and, 
as that nobleman is known to have 
perished in the Crusade of 1191, 
this gives an idea as to the period 
at which Chretien lived and wrote. 



CHR 

The count appears to have been a 
generous patron, and it was at his 
request, in fact, that Chretien 
composed his Conte del Qraal, 
which treats of the exploits of Sir 
Percival. This romance was aug- 
mented after the poet's decease 
by various other writers, notably 
Manessier, Gilbert de Montreuil, 
and Wauchier de Denain, and their 
act in so doing suggests that 
Chretien enjoyed great popularity 
in Prance. Nor was Philip Au- 
gustus the only person of high 
degree who favoured him and 
encouraged him to write ; for he 
also won the patronage of Marie, 
Countess of Champagne, and she 
it was who suggested to him his 
Chevalier de la Charette, a poem 
concerned with the adventures of 
Sir Lancelot. Other Arthurian 
poems which he wrote are Erec et 
Bnide, Le Chevalier au Lion or 
Tvain, and Cliges ; and at the 
beginning of the latter he states 
that he had also done a version of 
Tristram and Eseult, but unfortu- 
nately no trace of this work 
survives. In the same place 
Chretien speaks of his renderings 
into French verse of Ovid's Ars 
Amatoria and Metamorphoses, and, 
though the bulk of these also are 
lost now, a fragment of the latter 
is embodied in a versified transla- 
tion of Ovid made in the fourteenth 
century by Chretien Legonais de 
St. More. 

It is quite likely that Chretien 
utihzed the works of writers now 
lost, but it is equally probable 
that he based his art on traditions 
sung by minstrels ; and be that as 
it may, the fact remains that 
sundry manuscript copies of his 
tales, only preserved in the Biblio- 
theque de I'Arsenal, are mani- 
festly the earliest manuscripts 
enshrining stories of Arthur and 
his knights. 



59 CID 

A good edition of Chretien is 
that annotated by Professor Wen- 
deUn Poerster, 1884-87. This, 
however, does not contain the 
Conte del Oraal, but that poem 
has been issued separately under 
the editorship of Potvin, 1866-71. 
The poet's fame has never been 
confined to his native land, and he 
became familiar in Scandinavia 
at a very early date, perhaps soon 
after his own time, while most of 
his works have been translated 
into a number of different lan- 
guages. A Welsh version of Ywain 
will be found in Lady Charlotte 
Guest's Mabinogion, 1902 ; while 
sundry German versions are con- 
tained in Deutsche Glassiker des 
Mittelalters, 1888 ; and a collec- 
tion of the Scandinavian ones was 
made by Kolbing in 1872. 

Literature : Consult Gaston Paris, 
La Lfitterature Frangais au m6yen 
Age, 1890; Willmotte, L'Evolu- 
tion du Boman Frangais aux En- 
virons de 1160, 1903 ; and Boro- 
dine. La Femme et V Amour au 
XII' Siecle d'apres les Poemes de 
Chretien de Troyes. 

(Vide also " Conte del Graal " ; 
" Romailee, Origin of," etc.) 

CID, POEMA DEL. Rodrigo Diaz, 
Count of Bivar, sumamed Cam- 
peador (champion) (1040-1099), 
was the subject of numerous 
ballads before the epic which bears 
his name was written. This piece 
has come down to us in a mutilated 
condition, consists of 3744 lines, 
and is regarded as dating not 
earher than the middle of the 
twelfth or later than the middle 
of the thirteenth century — accord- 
ing to one MS. The Gd is a 
national hero both of history and 
romance, but it is only in the latter 
aspect that he concerns us here. 
His epic may, however, be in- 
dicated as a good example of how 



CID 



60 



a historical figure may become 
semi-mythical. The Poema del 
Cid has close literary affinities with 
the French Chansons de Geste, but 
is more deeply infused with natural 
feeling and is more " living " than 
the Song of Roland or the adven- 
tures of WiUiam of Orange. This 
is probably to be attributed to the 
circumstance that it was com- 
posed nearer to the hfetime of its 
subject than the chansons in- 
stanced. The hkenesses are ap- 
parent in the royal ingratitude 
shown to the Cid (compare Ogier 
the Dane), and in the vaiznting and 
hard fighting which colour the 
entire poem. The basis of its 
m.etre, according to Professor 
Comer of Prague, is ballad octo- 
syllables fuU or acatalectic, ar- 
ranged as hemistiches of longer 
line, but it may reasonably be 
questioned if any regular metrical 
form was intended by its author. 
The poem tells how Rodrigo 
loved and was beloved by Ximena, 
daughter of Lozano, Count of 
Gormaz, who, with Diego, the 
father of Rodrigo, excelled all 
the knights at the court of Fer- 
dinand I. of Castile. Gormaz, 
envious of Diego's superior repu- 
tation at court, provoked a duel 
in which the old Diego was 
vanquished. Diego demanded 
from his son the blood of the 
offender. In the combat between 
honour and love the former pre- 
vailed, and Gormaz fell. Ximena 
could no longer listen to the voice 
of love ; she demanded vengeance 
on Rodrigo, now in despair at 
losing her affection. But no 
champion could be found to meet 
him . Five Moorish kings appeared 
in Castile : devastation and death 
accompanied their progress. The 
youthful Rodrigo threw himself 
upon his steed Babieca, and at 
the head of his vassals went to 



CID 

meet the enemy, whom he speedily 
overcame. The young hero sent 
the five captive Mngs to Ferdinand, 
who, as a reward for his bravery, 
gave him Ximena, who had craved 
this boon of the king. They were 
married in Valencia. When Fer- 
dinand and King Ramiro of Arra- 
gon disputed Calahorra, the Cid 
was chosen as champion against 
Martin Gonzalez, and, being vic- 
torious, Ferdinand thus obtained 
the territory. When the counts 
of Castile saw how Rodrigo daily 
increased in honour they conspired 
with the Moors against him. But 
Ferdinand detected their treachery 
and sent Rodrigo to expel the 
traitors. Don Garcia's mfe im- 
plored Rodrigo to befriend her 
husband, so the Cid gave her a 
letter to the King of Cordova, 
who bestowed Cabra upon Don 
Garcia. But the conspirator, 
ungrateful to the King of Cor- 
dova, made war upon him, until 
Rodrigo took the city. When 
Ferdinand died, in his will, he 
divided his dominions among his 
sons and daughters. To Sancho 
he gave CastUe, to Alfonso he gave 
Leon, and to Garcia Gahcia, and 
part of Portugal; to Donna Ur- 
raca he gave Zamora, and to 
Donna Elvira the city of Toro. 
This division caused a war between 
the brothers, in which Sancho 
sought to unite the three kingdoms. 
When King Don Sancho of 
Navarre and King Ramiro of 
Airagon entered Castile, which 
was then held by the King of 
Zaragoza, Rodrigo the Cid led 
their armies. Don Sancho rode 
right bravely through the battle, 
calling out " Castile ! Castile ! " 
and charged the main body so 
fiercely that he broke their ranks. 
Thereafter King Don Garcia of 
Galicia took by force from Donna 
Urraca, his sister, many lands. 



CID 



6i 



CID 



When Sancho heard of this he said, 
"My brother has broken the oath he 
made to my father and disinherited 
Donna Urraca, my sister." So he 
consiilted Rodrigo, as Ferdinand 
had advised him. The Cid urged 
him to meet Alfonso at Sahagen. 
But Alfonso refused to join forces 
with him, as he would not go 
against the will of his father. 
Sancho afterwards passed through 
Alfonso's country, taking many 
lands in Galicia. Then he marched 
into Portugal, and besieged his 
brother Garcia at Santarem. 
There he would have been van- 
quished had not the Cid gained 
the victory for him against Garcia, 
capturing Gahcia and Portugal. 
Sancho next requested Alfonso to 
yield up Leon to him. Alfonso, 
however, prepared to defend his 
kingdom from the usurper. Don 
Pedro Ansures commanded King 
Alfonso's army, and the Cid up- 
held Don Sancho's standard. In 
this onslaught great was the 
slaughter on either side, but the 
courage of the Cid prevailed. 
Alfonso again attacked his brother 
at Vulpegera, fighting for the 
kingdom of Leon. This time the 
Leonese had the victory, for the 
Od was not in the field, and Don 
Sancho fled. While the Leonese 
were sleeping at break of day in 
Vulpegera, the Cid arose early and 
took them unawares. Alfonso 
fled to Carrion. Sancho was cap- 
tured by thirteen knights, but the 
Cid galloped after them without 
his lance, and cried, " Give me my 
lord, and I wiU yield up yours." 
But they refused him, until he 
challenged them, saying, " Hand 
me but a lance, and I will rescue 
my lord from all of ye." They 
comphed ; then he attacked them 
so bravely, slaying eleven and 
leaving only two aUve, that he 
rescued the king. Thereafter 



Sancho went to Burgos, taking 
with him his brother prisoner. 
Thereupon Donna Urraca be- 
sought the Cid to intercede with 
Sancho for her brother. Alfonso 
having fled from Leon to King 
Alimaym.on of Toledo, Sancho 
captured the citadel. Bent on 
conquest, Sancho now sent the 
Cid to Zamora, bidding Donna 
Urraca yield up the city to him. 
But she refused to give up what 
her father had bequeathed her. 
Persisting, Sancho besieged Za- 
mora, until VeUido Dolfos, under 
pretence of showing how to win 
Zamora, slew Don Sancho for 
breaking the oath which he made 
unto Ferdinand his father. 

When Alfonso arrived at Za- 
mora he pitched his tents at 
Santiago, and took counsel with 
his sister Urraca. The Leonese 
and the Galegos came to Zamora 
and received him as their king. 
Then the Castilians arrived, and 
the men of Navarre. All kissed 
Alfonso's hand in homage, save 
Rodrigo the Cid. This incensed 
the king, who inquired the cause 
of such disloyalty. Rodrigo 
arose and said, " Sir, all whom you 
see here present suspect that you 
caused your brother Sancho's 
death. Unless you clear yourself 
of this I wiU never kiss your hand 
nor receive you as my king." 
Alfonso took the oath in the Church 
of St. Gadea at Burgos before 
his sisters Urraca and Elvira, 
and all his knights. When he had 
cleared his name of the imputa- 
tion the Cid rephed, " If you gave 
command that such a thing should 
be done may you die by the hand of 
a villain whom you trust." From 
that day forward Alfonso bore no 
love toward the Cid. Rodrigo, 
after despoiling Logrono, Navarre, 
and Calahorra, besieged the castle 
of Faro, and took it. Alfonso 



CID 



62 



now commanded the Cid to do 
battle with Ximen Garcia de 
Tiogelos, the bravest knight in 
Navarre. They fought for three 
castles, and Eodrigo being vic- 
torious, AUonso gained them. The 
Cid's next combat was in Medina 
Celi with a Moor called Furos, 
whom he slew. Alfonso now set 
Rodrigo to demand tribute from 
theKings of Seville and of Cordova. 
War was then being waged between 
Almocanis, King of Seville, and 
Almundafar, King of Granada. 
Five CastUian counts aided Al- 
mundafar, who boldly entered 
Seville. Rodrigo overcame them, 
taking them prisoners. In three 
days he set them free, then re- 
turned with great honour to 
Seville. Almocanis paid him the 
tribute due to his king, and gave 
him many gifts, so that the Cid 
departed enriched for Castile. 
Thereafter King Alfonso went 
against the Moors, and Rodrigo 
being sick abode at home. While 
the king was going through Anda- 
lusia, the Moors assembled, and 
besieged the castle of Gormaz. 
When the Cid recovered strength 
he confronted the Moors at Toledo, 
bringing back several thousand 
prisoners. Rodrigo 's enemies 
charged him with broken faith. 
Alfonso beUeved these slanderers, 
so he sent for the Cid to meet him 
between Burgos and Bivar. The 
Cid would have kissed Alfonso's 
hand, but the Mng withheld it, 
saying angrily, " Rodrigo, quit 
my land." The Cid spurred his 
mule, vaulted into Ms own pro- 
perty, then replied, " Sir, I am 
not in your land, but my own." 
Albeit Alfonso ordered him out of 
the kingdom without delay. The 
king even decreed that no man 
should give Rodrigo a lodging, so 
he took up his abode on the sands. 
All were forbidden to supply the Cid 



CID 

with food in Burgos. But Martin 
AntoUnez, a good Burgolese, sup- 
pHed the Cid and all his company 
with bread and wine abundantly. 
" Campeador," said he to the Cid, 
" I have incurred the king's dis- 
pleasure, but when you regain the 
royal favour Alfonso will have 
me for his friend." 

Having left the kingdom of 
Alfonso,theCid entered the country 
of the Moors. He stormed the 
castle of Castrejon, slaying eleven 
men who defended the gates, and 
gaining great booty. He in- 
formed Alfonso of the conquest. 
Rodrigo next attacked Alcocer, 
sayiQg, " Lay on, knights, by 
God's mercy the spoil is our own." 
Three hundred Moors were slain, 
and the Cid entered the castle 
in triumph. Alcamin, King of 
Valencia, sent three hundred horse- 
men to bring Rodrigo to him aUve. 
Great numbers joined them ; but 
when three himdred lances charged 
every man slew his Moor. " Smite 
them, knights, for the love of 
charity," cried the Campeador. 
" I am Rodrigo, the Cid of Bivar." 
Seeing that the Moors had MUed the 
horse of Alvar Fanez, and that 
his lance was broken, the Cid went 
to his aid. He gave him the 
horse of an alguazil whom he 
slew, sajdng, " Mount, Minaya, 
for you are my right hand." Thus 
remounted, Alvar Fanez fell upon 
the Moors so fiercely that they 
began to give way. Then the Cid, 
seeing King Fariz, made towards 
him, smiting down aU who were 
in his way. Two blows failed, 
but the third went through his 
cuirass, and wounded him, so that 
he fled. With that blow were 
the Moors vanquished. As a gift, 
Rodrigo sent thirty horses to 
Alfonso, who pardoned Minaya, 
but still withheld his favour from 
the Cid. Now, Don Ramon of 



CID 

Barcelona vowed to capture the 
booty of the Gd, and to slay him 
in the pine-forest of Tebar. But 
Rodrigo charged his Frenchmen 
on horseback so vaUantly that 
every man was unseated. King 
Pedro of Arragon now came out 
against him, but the Cid took 
the castle of Monzon in his sight. 
Next he won Xerica, Onda, and 
Xlmenar, besides all the lands of 
Borriana and Murviedro. After 
he had plundered all that country 
he returned to Tamarit, where 
Zulema of Zaragoza then was. 
While the Cid was absent besieging 
the castle of Estrada, which he 
took by force, Zulema and his 
brother Abenalfange, King of 
Denia, together with Count Ramon, 
stormed Almenar. Rodrigo has- 
tened to the rescue, and after much 
bloodshed, he was victorious. For 
this conquest Zulema honoured 
Rodrigo greatly, giving him power 
in all his dominions. Now, Bang 
Almofalez invited Alfonso to a 
feast in the castle of Rueda. 
Suspecting treachery, Alfonso held 
back, although Don Sancho, Don 
Nuno, Don Gonzalo, and fifteen 
other knights, entered. There- 
upon the Moors threw down great 
stones and kUled them all. To 
avenge this villainy Alfonso sent 
for the Cid. Rodrigo, however, 
refused to return to Castile until 
Alfonso had granted just and 
lawful rights to every subject. 
Alfonso consented, and the Cid 
stormed Rueda, capturing Almo- 
falez and his accomplices, whom 
he sent to Alfonso for justice. 
Zulema and the Cid next entered 
Arragon, plundered the country, 
then returned to Monzon with 
great booty. Abenalfange's coun- 
try was next attacked, and the 
castle of Moriella destroyed. King 
Pedro of Arragon aided Abenal- 
fange, but the Campeador took 



63 CID 

Pedro captive, and defeated Abe- 
nalfange, who fled. Rodrigo re- 
turned to Zaragoza, tarried for a 
few days, then set out for Castile, 
with great riches, full of honour, 
was welcomed by Alfonso, who 
gave him the castles of Duenas, 
Orcejon, Hia, Campo, Gana, Bervi- 
esca, and Berlanga. 

In these days King Tq,hia 
reigned in Toledo, but was so 
cruel that all men desired his 
death. The Muzarabes therefore 
exhorted Alfonso to win Toledo 
from the King of Badajoz, who 
then maintained it. When at- 
tacked he retreated, but Alfonso 
pursued him, despoiling his coun- 
try for four years. Alfonso fought 
Abenalfange, but the Christians 
were defeated, and Diego, son of 
the Cid, slain. Thereafter Abe- 
nalfange was defeated by Alvar 
Fanez. Toledo being still uncon- 
quered, aU Christendom placed 
itself under the banner of the Cid. 
After fifteen days' siege Rodrigo 
entered the city in the year of 
Christ 1085. Valencia was being 
besieged by the French under 
Count Ramon, but at the Cid's 
request he departed. Again 
Ramon attacked the Cid, who 
this time took a thousand prisoners. 
Next Rodrigo besieged Liria, the 
people paying him two thousand 
maravedis. When Ali Abenaxa 
besieged Aledo, Alfonso besought 
the Cid's aid. The Moors de- 
parted, flying, even before Rod- 
rigo arrived. The Cid's enemies 
told the king that his delay was 
intended, so Alfonso took back the 
Campeador's lands, then sent for 
his wife and daughters. Alfonso 
attacked Valencia, demanding 
tribute formerly paid to the Cid. 
Feeling dishonoured, Rodrigo 
marched against the king, sack- 
ing Logrono, and Alfaro then 
returned to Zaragoza. Now 



CID 



64 



Alfonso saw his error in having 
listened to evil counsellors. So 
once more he besought the Cid 
to come to Castile. Rodrigo, 
however, tarried at Zaragoza, after 
which he took Valencia. King 
Yahia escaped in woman's ap- 
parel, but was afterwards slain by 
Abenaif. But this traitor to his 
lord was cast into prison by 
Rodrigo. Thus the Cid pos- 
sessed all the castles and fortresses 
in Valencia. The Campeador now 
sent Alvar Fanez and Martin 
Antohnez to Castile to visit 
Ximena, Elvira, and Sol, the Cid's 
wife and daughters, and to present 
Alfonso with a hundred horses. 
This magnanimity overcame the 
king, who made Rodrigo Lord of 
Valencia, and restored his wife and 
daughters. 

Three months had Ximena been 
in Valencia when King Yucef of 
Morocco besieged the city. " My 
wife and my daughters shall see 
me fight," said Rodrigo the Cid. 
Ximena's heart failed her, but her 
husband reassured her. Alvar 
Fanez took three hundred horse, 
went out, and lay in ambush. Four 
thousand went out with the Cam- 
peador to meet fifty thousand. As 
the Moors were contending with 
Rodrigo, Minaya sprang from his 
ambush to succour him, and 
scattered them, Yucef escaping. 
Great joy had Ximena and her 
daughters when Rodrigo came 
riding in. Holding up a bloody 
sword, he cried, " This is the 
way that we conquer the Moors." 
Besides King Yucef's tent the Gd 
sent two hundred horses saddled 
and bridled to Alfonso, who was 
greatly pleased. But Garcia Or- 
donez spitefully said, " It seems 
there is not a man left in the land 
of the Moors, that the Cid can 
thus do his pleasure ! " Alfonso 
sternly rephed, " Hold thy peace, 



CLA 

for in all things he serves me 
better than thou." Two brothers, 
coimts of Carrion, had resolved on 
a marriage with the daughters of 
the Cid, to obtain possession of 
his wealth. In a wild, moun- 
tainous desert they stripped the 
garments from the ladies, bound 
and beat them till pain choked their 
cries, then departed with the 
money. A trusty servant de- 
Uvered them from their wretched 
situation. The Cid demanded 
justice, and the king helped 
him to obtain it. Rodrigo 
insisted on a combat, so champions 
were chosen, a duel fought, but 
the dishonoured counts were 
spared their fives. The Cid's last 
exploit was the capture of Sagun- 
tum, after which he died at Valen- 
cia in the seventy-fourth year of 
his age, in 1099. He was buried 
in Castile, at the convent of St. 
Peter of Gardena, in a tomb 
which was honoured by emperors 
and kings. There rests the noble 
Ximena, and under the trees before 
the convent Hes the faithful horse 
Babieca. 

CLAREL. {Vide "Sir Otuel.") A 
Saracen king, taken prisoner by 
Charlemagne's knights, but Hbe- 
rated. He afterwards took Ogier 
prisoner. He fought Otuel in 
single combat and was slain by 
him. 

CLARICE. (FJrfe"FloriceandBlanch- 
fleur.") A slave in the service of 
the Amiral of Babylon. She was 
Blanchfleur's companion, and after 
Florice had entered the castle, 
contrived to bring the lovers 
together. She married her master, 
who proclaimed her queen. 

CLARIODUS. A romance written 
about the year 1550, or perhaps 
somewhat later. Like many 
Enghsh romances, it is derived 



CLA 



from a French original. The 
story, however, in a great measure 
concerns England. The hero 
himself is the son of the Earl of 
Esture, or of the Asturias ; but 
his lady-love, Meliades, is the 
daughter and heiress of PhiUppon, 
King of England, and the most 
material incidents and adventures 
are connected with the court of 
that monarch. There is a French 
prose version of this romance, 
but the two stories differ. Soon 
after the days of King Arthur, 
there reigned in England a worthy 
king named PhiUppon. He es- 
poused a lady belonging to a very- 
high family of Gascony, and the 
only issue of the marriage was a 
daughter named Meliades. The 
king had a brother, Thomas de 
Langarde, who was much younger 
than himself, but of an evil dis- 
position. Wiien PhiUppon had 
grown old he solicited the aid of 
his friend, the Count of Esture, 
to assist him in the government of 
his people. The count repairs 
to England, accompanied by his 
son Clariodus, and is made the 
king's Ueutenant, while his son 
Ukewise meets with the monarch's 
favour. There are four gentle- 
men in the count's train, whose 
names frequently recur in the 
course of the narrative. Two of 
them, Amadour de Bruslaut and 
PaUxes, were his sister's sons ; 
the third was of Scotland, and 
named Richard de Mataint. The 
fourth was of Wales, GuiUaume de 
Forest. 

Clariodus falls madly in love 
with MeUades. One day a knight, 
attended by six squires, enters 
the palace, and delivers a message 
from the Due de Jennes ; setting 
forth that, during the said duke's 
minority, PhiUppon had, without 
cause and without reason, seized 
upon the post of Claire-Fontaine, 



65 CLE 

and declaring that unless he 
signified his willingness to make 
restitution he would defy him " with 
fire and blood." The knight, 
however, added that he was 
authorized to leave the decision 
of their claims to the issue of a 
single combat, and was prepared 
to meet with any knight who 
would appear on the king's behalf. 
Clariodus tenders his services, 
and after being knighted by the 
king, enters the lists with his 
adversary. With this incident the 
romance is continued by a Scottish 
hand. Clariodus defeats the 
knight. Beyond this the tale 
consists of mere repetition, saving 
that the wedding of Clariodus is 
described. 

CLARISSE or CLARISSANT. (Mont- 
pelUer MS.) Is mentioned in Ar- 
thurian legend as being the sister 
of Gauvain, a dweller in the Magic 
Castle. Her lover is Guireome- 
lant, whom Sir Percyvelle fights. 

CLAUDIUS. Alluded to in the Grail 
legend of the Queste del Saint 
Graal {q.v.), as one of the mes- 
sengers who carried a message 
from Bors, Perceval, and Galahad 
to Arthur's court. 

CLEENA. A maiden of the Danaans 
in Irish myth, who dwelt in the 
Land of Youth. She fled from 
there with a mortal, Keevan of 
the CurUng Locks, who, on their 
arrival in Glandore Bay, went to 
hunt in the neighbouring woods. 
Cleena, left behind, heard the lay 
of a minstrel of her own country, 
which lulled her to sleep, and a 
mighty wave catching her up from 
the seashore bore her back to the 
land of her youth. The spot is 
known as the " Wave of Cleena." 

CLEGES, SIR. An old EngUsh ro- 
mance of the fourteenth century, 
probably an adaptation of the 



CLE 



66 



COL 



Gliges of Marie de France. It 
tells how Cleges, in the days of 
King Arthur's father, beggared 
himself by hberahty. But when 
his fortunes were at a low ebb 
he and his wife, Claris, would not 
despair. On Christmas Eve, when 
all was merry-making, he grieved 
that he could not as of yore feed 
" both free and bond," but his 
spouse cheered him, called him to 
his frugal meal, and bade him be 
glad in honour of the day. So 
they made merry, played with 
their children, and on the morrow 
went to the church. On returning 
home he knelt beneath a cherry 
tree, and thanked God for all 
his trials. Arising, he observed 
that the tree was green, and was 
covered with cherries. TraveUing 
as a poor man, staff in hand, he 
and his eldest son carried the 
fruit to King Uther at Cardiff. 
The porter would not grant them 
admittance unless they gave him a 
third of what they would receive 
from the king. The usher made 
a similar bargain, as did a steward. 
Uther, dehghted with the un- 
seasonable gift, promised the 
poor man whatever he might ask. 
Cleges then requested that he 
might give twelve heavy strokes 
to his enemies in the palace, and 
dealt out a fitting punishment 
to those who had barred his pro- 
gress. Returning to the haU, he 
found a harper to whom he had 
once been kind singing his praises. 
The king was reminded by his 
song of his old knight. Cleges 
then disclosed himself, and re- 
ceived suitable raiment, and the 
gift of Cardiff Castle. The last 
part of the MS. is wanting. 

CLEMADEX, KING. In Grail ro- 
mance, alluded to in connection 
with the damsel Blanchfleur (g'.v.), 
^vhom Sir Perceval shields. He 



is overcome by Sir Perceval, and 
is sent, along with his marshal 
Aguigrenons (q.v.), to Arthur's 
court. 

CODRE. Le, The twin daughter of 
one of the " two knights " re- 
ferred to in the Lay le Fraine 
{q.v.) and sister to Le Fraine. She 
soon after her birth lost her sister, 
who suffered desertion at her 
mother's hands. She was brought 
forward as bride to Sir Guroim 
(q.v.), which marriage was after- 
wards annulled, on her husband 
discovering his former lover to 
be her sister. She. subsequently 
married a neighbouring lord. 

COLBRAND. (Vide " Guy of War- 
wick.") A Danish giant, slain by 
Sir Guy in single combat. 

COLDRAN. Amiral in the Saracen 
Army. (Vide " Guy of Warwick.") 

COLGREVANCE, SIR. A Knight of 
the Round Table. He was on one 
occasion severely wounded by Sir 
Lionel for interfering in a quarrel 
between him and his brother. Sir 
Bors {q.v.). Latterly, however, 
he met his death at the hands of 
Lancelot, in connection with the 
scandal concerning Queen Guin- 
ever (q.v.). (Vide " Morte 
d'Arthur.") 

COLIDES. A knight mentioned in 
the Conte du Graal as warring 
upon the Dame of the Castle of 
Maidens, who was dehvered from 
him by Saigremors. 

COLLOQUY OF THE ANCIENTS. A 

collection of Ossianic tales welded 
into one about the thirteenth and 
fourteenth centuries. The Collo- 
quy opens by introducing us to the 
Fian heroes, Keelta and Oisin, 
who with their eight warriors 
each met for the last time at the 
dun of the chieftainess Camha to 
talk over the glorious past. Oisin 



COL 

then returns to the Fairy Mound 
of his mother, Blai {q.v.), and 
Keelta eventually falls in with St. 
Patrick and his monks at Drum- 
derg. The saint and his company 
listen, enchanted, to some hundred 
fairy tales, interspersed by lyrics, 
related by their strange visitor : 
whUe St. Patrick on his side 
baptizes the heathen warriors and 
gives absolution to many more of 
their comrades. 
COLOGRENANT. A knight mentioned 
in the Queste del Saint Graal as 
having been slain by Percival. 
In the Conte du Graal he interposes 
between the quarreUing brothers, 
Boort and Lyonel, and pays for 
his interference with his life. He 
is the same as Sir Colgrevance (q.v.) 
alluded to in the Morte d' Arthur. 

CON ALL OF THE VICTORIES. A 

Fomorian chief, first alluded to in 
the Irish myths as a hostage to 
Conary (q.v.). At the Battle of 
Hostel he cut his way to Teltin, 
where he found his father, Amer- 
gin, at his house. He was covered 
with a hundred and fifty wounds. 
Later he is found under the curse 
of weakness placed by Macha 
(q.v.) on the men of Ulster. He 
avenged the death of Cuchulain 
by the slaughter of Lewy (q.v.). 
He made a missle or " brain 
ball " from Ume mingled with the 
brains of Mesgedra, King of Lein- 
ster, whom he had slain. It was 
placed in King Conor's treasure- 
house at Emain Macha, where Ket 
(q.v.) found it, and using it as a 
sHng-stone, nearly slew with it 
Conor himself at the ford of 
Athnurchar in Westmeath, but 
Conor recovered, although the 
stone remained in his forehead. 
For further details of Conall's 
brain-ball, see " Conor." 

CONAN MAC LIA. An outlaw of 
Ireland, who was at enmity with 



67 CON 

the Fians. It is related in the 
Ossianic cycle of romance how, 
cornered by the Fians at Cam 
Lewy in Munster, he surprised 
Finn as he rested after the hunt, 
and clasped him in his arms from 
behind. Finn asked him what he 
required to release him, and he 
repUed that he desired to enter 
his service. The request was 
granted, and Conan became one 
of the champions of the Fians. 

CONAN MAC MORNA. A champion 
of the Fianna (q.v.). He is de- 
scribed in the Ossianic cycle of 
Irish romance as being a scoffer 
and derider of aU that was lofty 
and noble. It is related of him 
that while hunting he with others 
of the Fians entered a stately 
palace which they found empty, 
and where they sat down to feast. 
Soon, however, the walls shrank 
to the size of a fox-earth, and the 
heroes became aware that they 
had been lured to their destruction 
by the enchantment of the fairy 
folk. Conan, devouring the viands 
on the table, was oblivious of the 
danger, and could not stir from 
his chair. But two of the Fians, 
seeing his plight, pulled him from 
the seat, to which his skin stuck. 
To ease his pain they placed a 
black sheepskin upon his back, 
and it grew there, and he wore it 
tiU his death-day. He slew Lia- 
gan, a piratical invader, at the 
Battle of the Hill of Slaughter by 
a stratagem. He told him that ■ 
a hero had stolen behind him, and 
jwhilst he looked round, decapi- 
tated him with one blow of his 
sword. 

CONARY MOR. In Irish romance. 
High King of Ireland, whose 
figure predominates in a special 
legend-cycle. The introductory 
tale to his history is that of the 
immortals Midir (q.v.) and Etain 



CON 



68 



CON 



(q.v.). Etain's mortal husband, 
Eochy {q.v.), in revenge for the 
theft of his wife by Midir, de- 
stroyed the Fairy Mound of Bri- 
Leith, and thus brought down the 
ill fate that attended his great 
grandson, Conary Mor. Conary 
left his three foster-brothers after 
a game with them on the Plains 
of Liffey, and followed to the sea- 
shore a flock of marvellously 
beautiful birds. These took the 
form of armed men, whose leader, 
Nemglan, protected him, and in- 
formed him that the birds belonged 
to his father and were his kin. 
His geise or taboos were made 
known to him, and Nemglan told 
him in what manner to approach 
Tara. Thus he was proclaimed 
King of Erin. His reign was good, 
happy, and prosperous, until the 
time of his undoing, the Danaan 
folk eventually luring him to the 
breaking of his geise. While rest- 
ing with his retinue in Da Derga's 
hostel, he was attacked by the 
hosts of Ingcel, the exiled son of 
the King of Britain and the three 
reaver foster-brothers. Dying of 
thirst after the fury of his fighting, 
and finding the river that flowed 
through the hostel dried up by 
the magic of the reavers' wizards, 
he sent the warrior Mac Cecht, 
(q.v.) to fill his cup. After much 
searching the water was obtained, 
but too late, as when Mac Cecht 
returned he found Conary slain 
by the reavers. But to the mouth 
of the bodyless head of the King 
the cup was raised, and the head 
thanked Mac Cecht for the deed. 

CONN. One of the children of Lir 
(q.v.). 

CONNAN. A King of the Pomorians, 
a mythical folk of Ireland. He 
was killed in Tory Island by the 
Nemedian chief, Fergus, in a battle 
which resulted from the latter's 



revolt against the Fomorian 
monarch. 
CONNLA. Son of Cuchulain and 
Aifa. (Vide "Cuchulain.") He 
arrived from the Land of Shadows 
in a boat of bronze, and, landing 
in Ulster, was ordered by the 
king to leave the country. He 
refused, and overcame the cham- 
pions who were sent against him, 
tiU at length Cuchtilain, his father, 
was himself despatched to deal 
with the invader. They fought, 
and in the combat the boy's feet 
sank deep into the stone of the 
shore, whence the Strand of Foot- 
prints has its name. Cuchulain, 
on the point of drowning, thrust 
the Gae Bolg weapon (q.v.) into 
Connla's body, inflicting a mortal 
wound. Seeing the rimg he had 
given his mistress Aifa on the 
lad's finger, Cuchulain knew him 
to be his son, and presented him 
to the most famous warriors of 
Ulster before he died. The story 
is recounted in the Yellow Book 
of Lecan, but several other forms 
of it exist. 

CONNLA'S WELL. (Well of Know- 
ledge.) (F«(fe"Sinend.") 

CONOR MAC NESSA. Son of Fachtna 
and Nessa. It is stated in early 
Irish myth that he was proclaimed 
King of Ulster in preference to 
Fergus. The mighty hero Cuchu- 
lain was bred at his court, and 
received the arms of manhood at 
his hands. He plays some con- 
siderable part in the legend of 
Deirdre (q.v.), and suffered under 
the debihty curse of the Ultonians. 
(Vide "Macha,.") Numerous Chris- 
tian conceptions have crystaUized 
around -the legend of his later 
years. He was wounded at the 
ford of Athnurchar by a brain-ball 
missUe made from the brains of 
King Mesgedra. ( Vide " Conall of 
the Victories.") The bolt was 



CON 69 

permitted to remain in his head. 
Remarking one day to his arch- 
druid that the sky had become 
overcast, he was informed by the 
priest that nature was lamenting 
the death of the Son of God which 
was taking place on a hiU many 
thousands of miles away. Infuri- 
ated that such a being should 
suffer at the hands of wicked men, 
Conor drew his sword, and shout- 
ing, "Thus would I serve His 
enemies," he fell upon the neigh- 
bouring trees, and cut and hacked 
fiercely at them. But the brain- 
ball in his forehead became 
loosened with the exertion, and he 
fell and expired. 

CONRAD or KONRAD VON WURTZ- 
BOURG. A German poet of the 
second half of the thirteenth 
century. He is occasionally styled 
Priest Conrad, but whether he 
was in holy orders is not 
definitely recorded, while even 
the date of his birth is uncertain, 
and very little is known about his 
career. Considering his name, it 
may reasonably be supposed that 
the greater part of his hfe was 
passed in or near Wurtzbourg, but 
it would seem that he also lived 
for a while at Strassbourg, while his 
later years were spent at Basel, 
and there he died in 1287. In 
some degree he was a disciple of 
Gottfried von Strassbourg, and, 
like him, he strove to introduce 
greater variety into the rather 
monotonous metre in vogue among 
most narrative poets of his era. 
Conrad was a voluminous writer, 
and he left behind him two poems 
of enormous length, Der Trojaner- 
krieg and Partonopier und Meliur ; 
but these can hardly be said to 
contain his best work, and he is 
really seen to better advantage 
in some of his shorter and less 
ambitious efforts, notably Die 



CON 

Herzmoere and Engelhard. A 
number of his productions have 
been revived during modem times, 
and some of his smaller pieces will 
be found in Erzahlungen und 
Schwdnke des Mittelalters, edited 
by Lambel (second edition, 1883) ; 
while Der Trojanerkrieg was issued 
at Stuttgart in 1858 along with 
annotations by Roth and KeUer, 
and Partonopier und Meliur was 
published at Vienna in 1870 under 
the editorship of Bartsch. 

CONSTANTINE. Emperor of Rome 
and father of Viatdur {q.v.) who 
commanded his daughter to heal 
Eglamour (q.v.) after his encounter 
with the dragon. ( Vide " Eglamour 
of Artoys.") 

CONSTANTINE. Sir. ( Fi«ie " Roland 
and Ferragus.") A Knight of 
Rome. He was sent by Charle- 
magne to fight Ferragus, and was 
slain by him. 

CONSTANTIUS. {Vide " Roland and 
Ferragus.") Emperor of Constan- 
tinople. The Christians appealed 
to him for help against the per- 
secution by Ibrahim, and he was 
directed by an angel to apply to 
Charlemagne, in order that the 
Saracens might be defeated. Char- 
lemagne paid a visit to Con- 
stantinople, and was offered many 
gifts, although he only accepted a 
fewrehcs,in the presence of which 
wonderful miracles took place. 

CONTB DEL GRAAL. One of the 

" Quest " versions of the legend of 
the Holy Grail {q.v.) and an 
extensive compilation of over 
60,000 verses of poetry, written 
between 1180 and 1240. Verses 
1283 to 10,601 were composed by 
the twelfth-century French poet, 
Chretien de Troyes {q.v.), who 
states that he took the story from 
a book given him by a Count 
Philip of Flanders, who was Regent 



CON 70 

of France in 1180-81. The rest 
of the compilation is by different 
hands. Chretien's portion tells 
how Perceval was reared to the 
life of a forester by his mother, 
who had sought the shelter of the 
woodland. Meeting one day with 
a band of knights and their 
retainers, he follows them, despite 
the entreaties of his mother, to the 
court of King Arthur, where he 
becomes an habitxie, and gains a 
certaLu celebrity. Setting forth 
upon the career of a knight-errant, 
he meets with Gonemans, who 
trains him in all manner of 
knightly exercises. He assists 
Blanchefleur, an oppressed damsel, 
the niece of Gonemans, with whom 
he sojourns for a space. Faring 
forth once more, he comes upon 
two fishermen, whom he asks for 
shelter. He is directed to a 
neighbouring castle, wherein he 
beholds an old man stretched upon 
a couch, who gives him a sword 
bearing an inscription to the effect 
that it will not break except in 
the direst peril, and a lance 
dripping with blood. At supper 
a damsel enters bearing "a Grail," 
the supernatural light from which 
extinguishes that from the candles. 
Awakening in the morning, he 
discovers that the castle is deserted 
and, mounting his horse, enters 
the forest, where he encounters a 
damsel weeping over a dead knight. 
She explains to Perceval that the 
fisherman who had directed him 
to the castle was none other than 
the old man who had presented 
him -nith the sword and lance, and 
who had at one time been wounded 
through both legs by a spear, an 
injury which prevented him from 
taking any other exercise than 
fishing, whence he was called the 
Fisher King. Had Perceval asked 
the meaning of the mysteries he 
had beheld, the Fisher King would 



CON 

have been cured of his malady. 
It transpires that the damsel is 
Perceval's cousin. Perceval re- 
turns to Arthur's court, when a 
hideous woman appears, and de- 
nounces him for not asking about 
the mysteries. She tells of adven- 
tures perilous at Castle OrgeUous 
and Montesclaire. Gauvain or 
Gawain goes to Montesclaire to 
rescue an imprisoned damsel, Gifles 
to the Castle OrgeUous, and Perce- 
val to seek information concerning 
the Grail. The adventures of 
Gauvain are fully detailed. Per- 
ceval wanders for five years in a 
state of mind bordering upon 
godlessness, when at last on a 
Good Friday he chances to meet 
with a band of pilgrims. These 
remonstrate with him for riding 
armed on that holy day, and he 
turns aside to confess to a hermit, 
who proves to be his uncle. From 
him he learns that only the sinless 
can ask concerning the GraU, and 
that he has sinned in abandoning 
his mother, thus causing her 
death. The adventures of Gau- 
vain are reverted to, in the midst 
of which the tale breaks off. The 
first continuation of the legend is 
by a poet Gautier, who continues 
the adventures of Gauvain, who 
in a certain castle sees lance, 
sword and Grail, asks concerning 
them, but falls asleep whilst 
listening to the reply. On the 
next day he wakes to find what 
had been a wilderness blossoming 
because of the proximity of the 
GraU. But he is cursed by the 
peasantry for not having whoUy 
succeeded in his quest. Perceval 
now returns to the Fisher King, 
asks the necessary questions, but 
is told that he must first weld 
together the Grail sword, now 
broken. He mends it all except 
a small rift, and is greatly honoured 
by the Fisher Eling. The poem is 



COR 

then continued by Maneasier, who 
recounts how Perceval slew Parti- 
nans of the Red Tower, who had 
killed by guile Goon Desert, 
brother of the , Fisher King, in 
revenge for the death of 
Espinogre. On beholding the 
head of Partinans, the Fisher King 
is made whole, tells Perceval that 
he is his uncle, and makes him his 
heir. Gerbert then takes up the 
tale, and teUs how Perceval, having 
forsaken Blanchefleure, slays a 
witch who had murdered her uncle 
Gomumant, and returns to the 
damsel, whom he espouses. He is 
told in a dream that one of his 
descendants would deUver the 
Holy Sepulchre. The nature and 
origin of the Grail are described 
in these continuations. (Vide 
" Grail," " Parzival," " Peredur," 
" Sir PerceveUe.") 

CORBENIC. Castle, mentioned in 
Arthurian legend as the Castle 
where the Holy Grail was kept. 
It was guarded by two Hons, and 
Lancelot was fain to enter, trusting 
rather to ' his own strength than 
that of his Creator. In conse- 
quence he is struck dumb by a 
fiery wind, and remains so without 
food or drink for the space of 
fourteen days. 

CORMAC (I). Son of Art, King of 
Ireland. He is supposed to have 
been imbued with Christian ideals 
before the coming of St. Patrick 
to Ireland, and refused to be 
buried in pagan ground. 

CORMAC (2). King of Ulster. He 
married Etain Oig, daughter of 
Etain, but as she bore him no 
children save a girl, he divorced 
her. {Vide "Etain Oig.") 

CORMAC (3). Son of Conor Mac 
Nessa. He revolted against Conor 
for his treatment of the sons of 
Usna {q.v.), and assisted Maev in 
her invasion of Ulster. 



71 COR 

CORNWALL. Duke of, He warred 
with Uther Pendragon (q.v.) and 
was defeated and slain by his forces. 
Uther coveted his wife, Igraine 
(q.v.)s and assumed her husband's 
shape to win her. 

CORONEMENT DU ROI LOEYS. (The 
Crowning of King Louis.) A ro- 
mance of the WiUiam of Orange 
sub-cycle of the Charlemagne saga. 
(Vide "WiUiam of Orange.") Char- 
lemagne before he dies wishes to 
have his son Louis crowned. 
Louis is so fearful of the royal 
duties, however, that he dare not 
accept the honour. His father in 
anger threatens to make a monk 
of him. Hernaut of Orleans 
counsels three years' delay, but 
WiUiam of Orange, seeing through 
his treacherous design, kills him 
with a single blow of his fist. He 
then takes the crown and places 
it upon Louis' head. Charlemagne 
gives his son lengthy and good 
advice, and tells him to trust in 
WiUiam and Bernard of Breban, 
his brother. WilUam, however, 
asks the dying monarch for leave 
to go to Rome on a pilgrimage. 
He sets out with forty knights, 
and finds the Holy City besieged 
by the Saracens, France itself 
being also invaded. The issue of 
the war is staked on the result of a 
combat between Wilham and King 
Corsolt, the champion of the 
Saracens. Corsolt bids a feast be 
prepared beforehand, as he will 
soon slay the Frenchman. Corsolt, 
in the combat which ensues, cuts 
off WiUiam's nose, and cleaves 
his horse in two. WiUiam cannot 
reach the giant's head, and Corsolt 
stuns him with a mighty blow. 
The Saracen attempts to carry 
him off on the crupper of his horse, 
but William strikes him such a 
blow as renders him insensible, and 
then shears off his head. He 
next mounts the giant's horse, and 



COR 



72 



returns to the French, who offer 
battle next day, in which King 
Galafer, the Saracen, is overcome, 
but offers to release a certain King 
Gaifer if he is spared, with thirty 
thousand of his men. To this 
William agrees, and WiUiam is 
about to marry the grateful 
Gaifer's daughter when a messenger 
arrives announcing Charlemagne's 
death, and that Louis is menaced 
by Richard of Normandy. Re- 
nouncing his nuptials, William 
hurries back to France, where he 
learns that Louis is concealed in 
the crypt of St. Martin's Qiurch. 
Arrived at Tours, where Louis is 
in hiding, he proceeds to St. 
Martin's Church, where he is 
advised by Walter, a clerk, to slay 
aU the clergy, as they are traitors. 
The clerk fetches the young king, 
WiUiam slays Acehn, the son of 
Richard of Normandy, for refusing 
homage to the King, and beats the 
clergy out of the minster. Richard 
himself cUngs to the altar. WiUiam 
fells him with a blow of his fist, 
shaves his head, and strips him. 
They are, however, outwardly 
reconciled. Louis is reinstated, 
and WiUiam spends six years in 
conquering the land for him. 
Richard, taken prisoner in an 
ambush, dies in prison. WiUiam 
hastens back to Rome on receiving 
news of the invasion of that city 
by Guy of Almain, whom he slays. 
M. Jonckbloet infers from the 
circumstances of this romance, that 
though there was a conspiracy 
against the crowning of Louis le 
Debonair, in the poem now under 
notice there has been welded 
with it an account of the enthrone- 
ment of Louis d'Outremer, whose 
faithful defender was William of 
Poitiers. 

Literature : Jonckbloet, Guil- 
laume d'Orange, chanson de geste 
des 11'- et 12'- Slides, 1854. 



cov 

CORPRE. In Irish romance, a poet 
who obtained wretched hospitaUty 
at the court of the Irish King 
Bres {q.v.). In return for his 
treatment he dethroned the un- 
popular monarch by a scathing 
satire. 

CORSAPIAS. An old knight who 
set out in search of Nasciens 
(q.v.) as guardian of his wife, 
Flegentyne. He is mentioned in 
the Orand Saint Graal. 

COSTROYE. (Fi(fe"SirFerumbras.") 
A Saracen amiral, who when going 
to the bridge of Mantribe with a 
convoy of provisions, was over- 
taken by the ten French peers 
from. Aigremor and killed. 

COV AC. Younger son of Ugainy, an 
Irish long. Envying his brother 
Laery (q.v.) his kingdom, he pro- 
cured the assistance of a druid 
in order to gain the throne. Laery 
suspected treachery, and therefore 
would never see his brother, unless 
armed. So by the druid's advice 
Co vac feigned death, and was 
visited by the king, whom he 
stabbed to the heart. Having 
also murdered one of his nephews, 
he mounted the throne. 

COVENANT VIVIEN, LB. A romance 
of the WiUiam of Orange sub- 
cycle of the Charlemagne Saga. 
Vivien, the nephew of William, on 
receiving knighthood, registers a 
solemn vow never to flee before 
the Saracens " more than a lance- 
length." A great Saracen armada 
appears near Aliscans or Arleschans 
(probably Aries Champs or the 
Fields of Aries, but identified by 
others with AUs Camps, Elysian 
Fields, a famous cemetery outside 
the waUs of Aries). Vivien and his 
comrades attack the invaders, 
although these are a hundred to 
one. The Christians are over- 
matched, and Vivien, who is 



cow 

f wounded, permits one of his 
friends to ride to William of 
Orange for assistance. The 
messenger, Gerard of Commarchis, 
reaches Orange, of which city the 
romancer draws a beautiful and 
vivid picture. WiUiam is dis- 
mayed, but Guibor, his wife, who 
has nurtured Vivien from child- 
hood, encourages him. Ten thou- 
sand men are brought together. 
GuichardjVivien's younger brother, 
desires to follow the host, but is 
refused permission. But he cuts 
himself a great staff, fetches a 
charger out of the stable, and 
f oUows William without weapon or 
armour. Guibor sends after him, 
and he goes forth once more armed 
and knighted. He meets fifteen 
Saracens, kiUs three, and finally 
reaches WiUiam. Vivien, wounded 
four times, remains in possession 
of the field with thirty or forty 
men. He has his wounds dressed, 
and meeting his uncle WiUiam, 
strikes him under a misapprehen- 
sion. They recognize each other. 
For the continuation of the matter 
of the romance, mie article " Arles- 
chans. Battle of." 

COWARD KNIGHT. The, A knight 
alluded to in the Comie del Graal 
(q.v.) (Manessier's portion) as 
being afraid to attack the ravishers 
of two damsels. Perceval attacks 
them, and the Coward Knight is 
drawn into the struggle, and quits 
himself manf uUy. He subsequently 
bears himself equally well at a 
tournament in the company of 
Perceval, who, because of his 
courage, gives him the title of 
" Le Hardis." 

CRAFTINY. A harper in early Irish 
romance, who cut down a willow 
tree to make a harp. The tree 
chanced to be that to which King 
Maon, called Labra the Mariner, 
had confided the secret that he 



73 CRY 

had horse's ears. The instrument, 
on being performed upon in the 
king's haU, sang the words, 
" Labra the Mariner hath two 
horse's ears." The secret being 
out, Labra, who was king, cared 
nothing more for his deformity 
which had before galled him much. 
Craftiny was also instrumental in 
curing Labra's dumbness. 

CREDNE. In Irish romance, the 
artificer of the Danaans (q.v.). 
Along with Goban the Smith and 
Luchta the Carpenter, he kept 
repairing the weapons of the 
Danaans during their battle with 
the Fomorians (q.v.). 

CROWNING OF KING LOUIS. (Vide 
" Coronement du Roi Loeys.") 

CRUDEL. King of Great Britain. 
He threw Joseph and his son 
Josephes, together with many 
other Christians, into prison for 
forty days, and forbade food to be 
given them, but they had the 
life-sustaining Holy Grail with 
them. They were ultimately de- 
Uvered by Mordrains and his 
brother-in-law Seraphe with their 
host. 

CRUNDCHU. (Vide " Macha.") 

CRYSTABELL. Daughter of Sir 
Prinsamour (g'.'y.),a count of Artois, 
and for whose sake Sir Eglamour 
(q.v.) undertook three adventures. 
She was the mother of Degrabell 
(q.v.), begotten of Sir Eglamour. 
Her father subsequently banished 
her from his court. Her son was 
stolen from her by a griflSn, which 
carried him into Israel. She 
eventually arrived in Egypt, where 
she hved for a while under the 
guardianship of her uncle, the king 
of that country. She afterwards 
married her son, as the result of 
a tourney given by her uncle ; 
but discovering her husband's 



cue 74 

real identity,' her marriage was 
revoked. Later, at another tourney 
for the same purpose, in which 
Eglamour took part, she discovered 
him to be her long-lost lover. 
They and their son return to 
Artois, where they are married. 
The latter subsequently married 
Aradanta. (See the romance of 
" Sir Eglamour of Artoys.") 

CUCHOLAIN. The most heroic figure 
in Irish romance, and the great 
Ulster warrior who dominates the 
Ultonian cycle. Son of the solar 
god Lugh (q.v.) and Dectera (q.v.), 
he had also a reputed father, 
Sualtam {q.v.). For his child-hfe, 
vide " Setanta." Soon after he had 
received the name of " the Hound 
of Chilian," he overheard Cathbad, 
his maternal grandfather, divine 
that on that day he who should 
take up arms would become the 
most famous in deeds in Ireland. 
Cuchulain then asked King Conor 
{q.v.) that he might take the arms 
of manhood, a request which was 
immediately granted him. The 
men of Ulster now asked him to 
take a wife, but Emer, daughter 
of Forgall, alone pleased him. So 
he set out in his chariot for her 
father's dun, to learn that she 
would not marry him until he had 
slain his hundreds. He therefore 
sought through black forests and 
desert paths, through quagmires 
and seas, the Land of Shadow and 
the Warrior-goddess Skatha. He 
passed the Plain of lU-Luck, 
crossed unaided the Bridge of 
Leaps, and presented himself to 
the warrior-goddess. For a year 
and a day he dwelt with her, 
learning all manner of feats, 
and lastly the use of the Gae 
Bolg {q.v.), a most deadly weapon. 
With this he was to do much havoc 
among his enemies. During this 
time of training he sealed a great 



cue 

friendship with Ferdia {q.v.), which 
was to have a tragic ending. 
Skatha, making war with Aifa 
{q.v.), the mightiest of the warrior- 
women of the world, did not wish 
Cuchulain to tax his fighting 
powers, still immature, and there- 
fore gave him a sleeping potion. 
This should have lasted for twenty- 
four hours, but the hero awoke after 
one hour and scattered death upon 
the host of the enemy. Finally, 
Aifa inciting Skatha to single com- 
bat, Cuchulain accepted the chal- 
lenge for himself, and by his victory 
made an end of the war. Aifa 
then became his friend and lover, 
and before he departed for the 
court of Conor he gave her a ring 
which he bade her fit upon the 
finger of their son, should they have 
one, and send him to Ulster. 
Cormla {q.v.) was to be the name 
of the boy, iDut neither his hneage 
nor his name was he to reveal. 
This secrecy brought about the 
death of this only son at the hands 
of his father. Cuchulain's first 
exploit after his pupilage with 
Skatha was with the sons of 
Nechtan {q.v.), whom he slew and 
whose heads he fastened to his 
chariot's rim. Returning in his 
battle fury with sixteen swans and 
two stags yoked to his chariot, he 
was met by naked women of 
Emania, became ashamed of his 
battle fury, and after several 
plunges in vats of cold water he 
regained his natural mood and 
aspect. Upon the next day he 
won Emer, having slain Forgall 
and many of his men and hundreds 
of the host of ForgaU's sister. For 
the manner in which he gained the 
championship of Ireland, vide 
" Briccriu." But the name Cuchu- 
lain stands out in the most gigantic 
hnes in the famous Cattle Raid of 
Quelgny {q.v.). Single-handed, and 
unaffected by the curse of Macha 



cue 

(q-v.), he harried and slew by 
hundreds the host of Maev {q.v.). 
Then he made a compact with the 
queen that he would cease to 
harry her host if she sent against 
him but one champion at a time. 
Each warrior he would meet at 
the Ford of Ferda. Even Fergus 
challenged his old pupil. But 
Chichulain pretended to run from 
him, Fergus having promised to do 
the same when required. After 
the capture of the Brown Bull 
{q.v.), the Morrigan, a goddess of 
war, appeared to Cuchulain as a 
king's daughter and offered him 
her love. He refused it, and was 
beset by her in his fight with Loch 
(q.v.), and through her means was 
wounded several times by this 
Connacht champion. She after- 
wards became his friend. Then 
worn and despondent with his 
hard fighting, he beheld his father 
Lugh, who bade him sleep for 
three days while he kept the Ford. 
After the allotted time he arose 
refreshed, to deal still greater 
death and destruction on the 
invaders. For, while he rested, 
the boys' corps of one hundred 
and fifty sons of the chieftains of 
the Ulster princes, had marched 
against the Maevian army, only 
to be annihilated. Champion after 
champion went down before 
him, and the Clan Calatin (q.v.) 
had been hacked to pieces when 
Ferdia, the last and mightiest of 
the warriors of Maev, urged by the 
fear of satire, went unwillingly 
against his companion of the 
Skathan days. After three days 
of sore wounding on both sides, 
Cuchulain, by the use of the Gae 
Bolg, conquered, and Ferdia fell. 
Then the mighty warrior, over- 
wrought by his efforts and over- 
powered by grief at the death of 
his old friend, lay in a death-like 
swoon for many days. He awoke 



75 cue 

to find their debihty had passed 
from the men of Ulster, and, his 
battle-frenzy coming on him, he 
completely conquered the host of 
Connacht and its queen, sparing, 
however, her life. For with Fergus, 
who had kept his promise to fly 
from Cuchulain when required, 
the men of Leinster and Munster 
had gone out of the battle. One 
day, tired with the hunt, Cuchulain 
lay down to rest, and in his sleep 
had a vision of two maidens who 
alternately beat him. For a year 
and a day afterwards he lay sick 
until an unknown man l?ade him 
seek the face of his vision and 
learn its meaning. Here he heard 
of the love that Fand, the Pearl 
of Beauty, wife of Mananan 
(q.v.) the sea-god, bore him. For 
the story of this amour, vide 
"Fand." Full of the desire of 
revenge, Maev set the posthumous 
three sons of three daughters of 
the wizard Calatin against Cuchu- 
lain. He was then tended in his 
despondency in a solitary glen by 
Niam (q.v.) and other princesses, 
until urged by Bave (q.v.),in Niam's 
form, he went forth to battle. 
At the touch of his Hps the wine 
that Dectera gave him turned to 
blood ; at the ford upon the plain 
of Emania he beheld a maiden 
weeping and washing bloody gar- 
ments and arms, his own ; and 
he partook unwillingly (for he was 
breaking his geis or taboo) of the 
roasted dog offered him by the 
three crones, Calatin's daughters. 
His end was at hand ; near to 
Slieve Ford, south of Armagh, he 
met his foes, and, thrice requested 
by a satirist to give him his spear, 
he fell at the third return of it, by 
the hand of Lewy (q.v.). Having 
drunk at the loch-side and bathed 
his wounds, upright against a 
pillar he died, by the sword of 
the son of Curoi. His vast figure 



CUL 

reappears in the twelfth century 
Book of the, Dun Cow. Here he is 
summoned from hell by St. Patrick 
to relate its horrors to the pagan 
Laery mac NeiU, King of Ireland. 
Laery accepted Christianity and 
Cuchulain is granted heaven. We 
see in Cuchulain a typical solar 
hero. We are informed at once 
that he is the son of the sun-god. 
His youth, like that of Arthur, 
Tristram, and other similar cham- 
pions, is passed in obscurity, 
during his zenith of power his 
battle-fury is greatest, and at 
length he weakens, and is slain 
with comparative ease. He does 
not, however, exhibit the character- 
istics of a culture-hero as do some 
sons of the sun. He does not 
introduce the arts as does Quetzal- 
coatl in Mexico, nor does he remedy 
abuses or undertake gigantic tasks 
Hke Hercules. But the essential 
characteristics of the sun-hero 
are in his case ever abundantly 
present. (Vide Miss E. Hull's 
Cuchullin Saga, 1898 ; Standish 
O'Grady, Silva Oadelica, 1893 ; 
L. Winifred Faraday, The Cattle 
Raid of Cualnge, 1904.) 

CULLAN. A smith of Quelgny in 
Ulster, who figures in the Cuchu- 
lain myth . He in vited King Conor 
and his followers, and feasted 



76 DAN 

them royally, closing the gates of 
his house, and letting loose a 
huge hound for the protection of 
the mansion. The boy Setanta 
{q.v.), whom the company ex- 
pected, arrived at the house of 
Cullan, and, being attacked by the 
monstrous hound, slew it. Cullan 
was grieved that his guardian was 
killed, and, seeing this, Setanta 
offered to train up one of his 
whelps to perform the same duty 
as its sire, and meanwhile to under- 
take that duty himself, from which 
circumstance he was afterwards 
known as Cuchulain, that is " the 
Hound of CuUan." {Vide " Cuchu- 
lain.") 

CUMHAL. In Irish romance, chief 
of the clan Bascna, and son of 
Trenmor, husband of Muma of 
the White Neck, and father of 
Finn. He was slain at the Battle 
of Knock, fighting against the 
Clan Moma. 

CUROI. In the Ultonian cycle of 
Irish romance, father of Lewy, 
husband of Blanid, the E[ing of 
Munster. He was slain by Cuchu- 
lain who abducted his wife. ( Vide 
" Blanid.") 

CYV WLCH THE TALL. ( Vide " Godo- 
din.") A Cymric warrior slain at 
the Battle of Cattraeth. 



DA DERGA. (Vide " Conary.") 

DAG. Son of King Hogni (q.v.) and 
brother to Sigrun (q.v.). (Vide 
the " Lay of the Volsungs.") In 
revenge for his father's death he 
slew Helgi (q.v.) with the aid of 
Odin's sword. 

DAGONET, SIR. Jester to King 
Arthur and his knights. (Vide 
" Morte d'Arthur.") 



DALAN. In the Irish legend-cycle 
of Conary Mor (q.v.), the druid 
who revealed to Eochy (q.v.) that 
Etain (q.v.) was in the Fairy 
Mound of Bri-Leith. 

DAMAN, In Irish romance, a Fir- 
bolg, father of Ferdia (q.v.). 

DANAANS, THE, i.e. the people of 
the goddess Dana, frequently 
alluded to in Irish romance, were 



DAN 

one of the three Nemedian families 
who survived the Fomorian vic- 
tory. They returned at a later 
period to Ireland. According to 
Tuan mac Carrell {q.v.), they came 
" out of heaven," and later tradi- 
tion has it that they sprang from 
four cities, Fahas, Gorias, Finias, 
and Murias {q.v.). In each of 
these cities at the foot of the 
throne of a great sage they learned 
science and craftsmanship, and 
from each they brought away a 
magical treasure. From Falias 
came the Stoneof Destiny (Lia Fail) 
{q.v.), from Gorias the invincible 
sword of Lugh of the Long Arm, 
from Finias a magical spear, and 
from Murias the Cauldron of the 
Dagda. Thus armed, as the Book 
of Invasions tells us, the Danaans 
were wafted into Ireland in a 
magic cloud and appeared in 
Western Connacht. Here they 
were found by another Nemedian 
surviving family, the Firbolgs, in 
the fortified Moyrein camp. Sreng 
and Bres, ambassadors each, one 
from the Firbolgs, the other from 
the Danaans, examined the 
weapons of either, the light sharp- 
pointed spears of the latter, the 
heavy and blunt spears of the 
former. The new-comer then pro- 
posed that Ireland be divided 
among and protected by the 
Firbolgs and the Danaans. But 
Sreng's people would not agree 
to the proposal, and the first 
Battle of Moytura ensued. Under 
Nuada of the Silver Hand {q.v.) 
the Danaans prevailed, and the 
Firbolg King, mac Cecht, was 
slain. Then the victors allotted 
Connacht to the conquered, and 
took possession of the remaining 
Irish territory. Nuada being 
maimed, Bres {q.v.) was chosen 
king, but was satirized out of his 
throne by the poet Corpre {q.v.), 
and Nuada, now provided vdth a 



77 DAN 

hand of flesh and blood by the 
art of Diancecht {q.v.), was re- 
crowned. Bres then sought re- 
venge, and the Danaans groaned 
under the Fomorian Balor until 
Lugh {q.v.) appeared to deliver 
them. In the second Battle of 
Moytura the powers of darkness 
and brute force, represented by 
the Fomorians, were crushed by 
those of science and poetry in the 
shape of the Danaans. In their 
turn the Danaans were conquered 
by the Sons of Miled {q.v.) in the 
Battle of Teltown, and withdrew 
for good into the realm of faery. 
The interpretation of the Danaan 
myth is the conquest of hght and 
intellect over duhiess and stupi- 
dity, impersonated by the Firbolgs, 
and, lastly, over the Fomorians, 
the powers of " evil " or darkness. 
The chief Danaan gods and 
goddesses were the Dagda, Dana 
or Brigit, his daughter, Angus 
Og and Midir the Proud, his sons, 
Bov the Red his brother, Lugh, 
Fir and his son Mananan, the 
Morrigan and Aine. To the bard 
they were the embodiment of 
power and beauty, of science and 
poetry ; to the peasant, gods of 
earth, upon whom depended his 
agricultural and pastoral welfare. 
And this latter conception of them, 
as it has endured longer than the 
druidic, so is it most probably 
the older. Again, in their con- 
flicts with each other and with 
mortals, they are accessible to 
death, while it is by magical 
powers they conquer their mortal 
foes. 

DANE MONT. In Carlo vingian ro- 
mance, son of the Saracen Emir 
Corsuble. Irritated that his sister 
Glorianda should be " so hght," 
as to go to behold her lover, 
Karaheut of India, fight with 
Ogier the Dane, he interrupted 



DAN 

the combat. He was afterwards 
slain by Ogier. {Vide " Ogier the 
Dane.") 

DANK WART. {Vide " Nibelungen- 
lied.") Brother of Hagen. He 
fought against the treacherous 
Huns, and, single-handed, he 
mowed his way into King Etzel's 
court, and informed Hagen and 
Gunther of their danger. 

DARA. Son of Pachtna, in Irish 
romance, owner of the Brown Bull 
of Quelgny. {Vide " Quelgny.") 

DARES AND DICTYS. Dares Phry- 
gius and Dictys Cretensis, two 
authors, supposed to be con- 
temporary with the siege of Troy, 
whose apocryhal accounts coloured 
all Mediaeval conceptions of that 
event. Dictys, a companion of 
Idomeneus, was supposed to repre- 
sent the Greek side, whilst Dares, 
priest of Hephaestus, supported 
the Trojans. These works exist 
at present in Latin prose only. 
But it is highly probable that 
Dictys was originally a Greek 
forgery. An introduction to 
Dictys, which is presumably the 
older, purports to be a letter from 
Lucius Septimius to one Quintus 
Aradius, who states that the book 
had been written by Dictys in 
Punic letters, which Cadmus and 
Agenor had introduced into Greece, 
and that certain shepherds dis- 
covered the manuscript written on 
hnden-bark paper in a tin case in 
Dictys' tomb at Gnossos, that 
their superior turned the Punic 
letters into Greek, which had 
always been the language of the 
work, and gave the MS. to Nero. 
Dares, on the other hand, purports 
to be introduced by Cornehus 
Nepos to Sallustius Crispins, and 
to have been translated by the 
former from MS. in the hand- 
writing of Dares which he dis- 
covered at Athens. Dictys may 



78 DAR 

have been written by some Greek 
about the time of Nero, whilst 
Dares may be as late as the 
twelfth century. Dictys, the full 
title of whose book is Ephemerie 
Belli Trojani, is the longer and 
the better written. But Dares 
was the more popular of the two 
in Mediaeval times. Dares com- 
mences his De Exidio Troj(B with 
the episode of the Golden Fleece. 
Coming to the matter of Troy, 
Dares runs quickly through the 
incidents of the slaughter of Patro- 
clus and the battle at the ships, 
and tells of the plot of Palamedes 
against Agamemnon. The Greeks 
are usually worsted, as behoved 
the spirit of an author who 
probably wrote for the delectation 
of princes who imagined themselves 
sprung from the loins of those who 
builded windy Eium. Agamem- 
non petitions for a three years' 
truce, which is granted by Hector. 
This is speedily leaped over, and 
the fortunes of war having gone 
against the Trojans, they in turn 
sue for a three months' armistice. 
For twelve days the combatants 
engage in giant strife, when in 
turn the Greeks crave a thirty 
days' cessation of hostUities. 
Hector's death at the hand of 
" fierce Achilles " is then described. 
Palamedes succeeds in supplanting 
Agamemnon as Polydeuces, and 
conducts the war with spirit. 
Achilles, desirous of espousing 
Polyxena is told that he can gain 
her by directing his efiforts towards 
the estabhshment of peace. He 
abstains from fighting, and another 
battle takes place at the ships, the 
hero of which is Troilus. Agamem- 
non attempts to placate Achilles, 
but to no purpose. Troilus makes 
great havoc among the Hellenes 
in another battle, but is at last 
slain through Achilles wounding 
his horse. The death of Achilles 



DAR 

by ambush in the temple of 
Apollo — the vulnerable heel being 
ignored— is followed by those of 
Ajax and Paris. The Amazons 
appear and defeat the Greeks 
heavily. The war ends with the 
treacherous admittance of the 
Greeks into Troy, and the Trojan 
emigration in twenty-two ships. 
The work possesses no hterary 
merit, and is actually an attempt 
to differ from Homer for the 
political reasons alluded to above. 
It was from these works that 
Chaucer derived his ideas of the 
Tale of Troy, and also through 
the medium of Guido delle Co- 
lonne's Romance of Troy (8toria della 
Guerra di Troja). This work was 
translated by Eydgate, who called 
it the Troie Boke, in 1420, and 
printed by command of Henry 
VIII. in 1513. Dares and Dictys 
was also the groundwork of a new 
compilation in French on the 
subject of Troy, written by Raoul 
le Feure, chaplain to the Duke of 
Burgundy, in 1464, and partly 
translated into English prose in 
1471 by Caxton under the title 
of the Recuyel of the Histories of 
Troy. 

DARK, THE. In Irish romance, a 
Druid, who sought in vain the 
love of Saba (q.v.), and in revenge 
turned her into a fawn. 

DAYRE. ( Vide " Florice and Blanch- 
fleur.") A slave in the service of 
the Amiral of Babylon. He enter- 
tained Florice in his quest of 
Blanchfleur. By his counsel 
Florice managed to gain admit- 
tance to the amiral's castle. 

DEATH OF DON PEDRO. A romantic 
poem of Mediaeval Spain, which 
tells how Don Pedro, the hero of 
many atrocious and tragical stories, 
was driven out of Castille by his 
natural brother, Don Henry of 
Transtamara, who had spent many 



79 . DEC 

years in exile. Owing to the 
cruelties and insults which Pedro 
had heaped upon members of 
French Royalty, including his wife. 
Queen Blanche, he received no 
assistance from the French, but 
Edward the Black Prince took up 
his cause and marched into Spain 
with a considerable army, when 
Henry was defeated at the Battle 
of Nejara. After the Black Prince 
left Spain in 1368, Henry, with 
some of his followers, among 
whom was the famous Dugueschn, 
encountered Pedro at the head of 
a large army, which soonhad to give 
way to the Frenchmen. Pedro 
escaped with a few men, and took 
shelter with a knight, who betrayed 
his hiding-place to Henry. Henry 
entered his room, and in insulting 
terms called on him to step 
forward, which Pedro fearlessly 
did. The brothers grappled hke 
hons, the Frenchmen looking on, 
and as they swayed in deadly 
wrestle, one breathing triumphant 
fury and the other despair and 
mortal hatred, Pedro had the 
vantage of Henry, who fell under- 
neath him. A page of Henry 
caught Pedro by the waist, thus 
helping the fallen man, who 
stabbed his brother to the heart, 
and " the fiercest soul that ever 
dwelt in the bosom of a Christian 
fled." Pedro's head was then cut 
off and his body meanly buried. 
The ballad which describes his 
death is often quoted by Cervantes 
in Don Quixote. 

DEBILITY OF THE ULTONIANS. {Vide 
"Maeha.") This curse fell upon 
the Ulster warriors during the 
Cattle Raid of Quelgny {q.v.). 

DECTERA. In Irish romance, mother 
of Cuchulain {q.v.) and daughter of 
Cathbad the Druid. She dis- 
appeared from the court of Conor 
mac Nessa with fifty young female 



DEG 



80 



DEI 



companions. After a lapse of 
three years a flock of birds settled 
on the fields of Emain Macha, and 
laid waste the crops. The King 
Conor and his courtiers went out 
to drive them ofli, but the birds 
only fled a little way, and at each 
flight lured the party further on, 
until they ultimately brought them 
to the magic mound of Angus on 
the river Boyne. Night fell, and 
the king despatched Fergus to 
find a place for repose. The 
scouting party came upon a 
splendid palace, where they were 
greeted by a youth of noble mien, 
accompanied by a lovely woman 
and fifty maidens. Fergus recog- 
nized the ladies as Dectera and 
her missing maidens, and the 
youth as Lugh the sun-god. King 
Conor, on hearing this news, 
summoned Dectera to him, but 
she sent him her new-bom son 
Cuchulain. 

DEGRABELL, SIR. Son of Eglamour 
(q.v.) and Crystabell (q.v.), plays 
an important part in the romance 
oi Eglamour of Artoys (q.v.). Along 
with his mother he was banished 
from the home of the latter's 
father, Prinsamour (q.v.). He was 
stolen from his mother by a 
griffin, and subsequently discovered 
by the King of Israel, who acted 
as his foster-father. He mis- 
takenly married his own mother, 
which marriage was, on the same 
day, revoked. He subsequently 
discovered his father and married 
Ardanata. 

DEIRDRE. Daughter of Fehm. In 
the chief of the preliminary tales 
to the Irish romance of the Cattle 
Raid of Quelgny (q.v.), it is 
related that an Ulster lord, Fehm, 
invited King Conor to a feast. 
During the merrymaking a mes- 
senger brought word of the birth of 
a daughter to the host. Then Cath- 



bad, the King's Druid, foretold : 
" The infant shall be fairest among 
the women of Erin, and shall wed 
a Mng, but because of her, shall 
death and ruin come upon the 
Prince of Ulster." Conor sought 
to avert this doom by sending the 
child Deirdre with her nurse 
Levarcam to a sohtary dun in a 
great wood. Here she was visited 
by the king, who intended to wed 
her when she was of marriageable 
age, nor did she see any other 
man save Cathbad. One winter's 
day, however, near the approach 
of her bridal mom, she beheld on 
the window upon the white snow 
the blood of a newly-slain caK and 
a raven lapping it. Such, she told 
her nurse, was the man whom she 
wished to wed : with hair black 
as the raven's wing, cheek red as 
the blood of the calf, and skin 
white as the snow. She had 
pictured Naisi, a member of the 
Red Branch, one of Conor's house- 
hold. Levarcam then, upon the 
entreaties of Deirdre got her access 
to Naisi, who at last, conquered 
by the woman's beauty, and her 
prayers to be saved from Conor, 
fled with her to Scotland. Here 
her lover took service with the 
King of the Picts, but when the 
latter beheld the beauty of Deidre, 
he wished to take her from Naisi, 
so Naisi and his two brothers who 
had accompanied him escaped 
with Deirdre and Levarcam to 
shelter in Glen Etive. Years had 
passed, and Conor had been kept 
in knowledge of Naisi and the 
maiden. Then, at an invitation 
brought him by his bosom friend, 
Fergus mac Roy, to return to 
Ulster, where aU would be well, 
the fugitive, though Deirdre fore- 
saw evil, left his hiding-place for 
Ireland. Here they were met by 
Baruch of the Red Branch, and 
Fergus was invited to a feast 



DEI 

which he unwillingly attended. 
So, protected by his two sons, the 
party arrived at Emain Macha, 
and were received into the House 
of the Red Branch. Conor did 
not see them, however, but he 
sent for Levarcam, and inquired 
for aU. Deirdre, she told him, 
had lost her beauty. Trendhom 
was then sent to spy upon the 
sons of Usna. Arriving at their 
lodging, he foimd bolt and bar 
fast, and therefore he cUmbed to 
an upper window, whence, spell- 
bound by the beauty of the maiden, 
he beheld Naisi and Deirdre 
pla3dng chess, and the others 
talking, cleaning their arms, or 
preparing for rest. But Trendhom 
was discovered, and Naisi struck 
out his eye with a chessman. 
Then Conor sent his guards to 
fetch the sons of Usna, who had 
maimed his messenger. Buino, 
the son of Fergus, however, drove 
them back at the sword's point, 
but was bought off by a great 
gift of lands from the Mng. His 
brother lUan then defended the 
Red Ranch, but was slain by 
Conor's two sons. So Naisi and 
his brothers protected themselves, 
until by the spells of Cathbad they 
were seized and brought to Conor. 
The king had promised his druid 
to do the captives no hurt, but 
when they were bound he called 
upon man after man to slay them. 
None responded, save Owen, son 
of Duracht and Prince of Femey, 
who with one sweep of Naisi's 
sword, shore off the heads of the 
three brothers. Then Deirdre 
dwelt a year with Conor in Emain 
Macha, but all that time she 
never smiled. Asked by the king 
what she hated most, she rephed, 
" Thou thyself, and Owen, son 
of Duracht." So Conor sent her 
to Owen for a year ; but she, 
being tormented by the king as 



81 DER 

she stood behind Owen in the 
chariot, flung herself against the 
rock and died. It is said that the 
two yew trees above her and 
Naisi's graves met and intertwined 
above the church of Armagh. 

DEOCA. (The "Woman of the 
South.") In Irish romance, a 
Princess of Munster, who asked 
tairgnen, to whom she was be- 
trothed, to give her as a wedding 
gift the famous children of Lir, 
who by the enchantments of their 
step-mother had been changed 
into four wonderful singing swans. 
Their guardian hermit refused them 
to the chief, when the " man of the 
North " seized them violently by 
their silver chains. But in the 
presence of Deoca they assumed 
their human, not their Danaan, 
form, and the princess now gazed 
upon four withered, white-haired, 
miserable beings. Lairgnen fled 
from the place, but the hermit 
administered baptism ere they 
died, and sorrowed for them until 
he himself was laid in the grave. 

DEPARTURE OF THE SONS OF 
AYMERY. {Vide " Enfances Guill- 
aume.") 

DERMOT OF THE LOVE-SPOT. 

(Dermot O'Dyna.) The typical 
lover of Irish legend. He was 
the son of Donn (vide "Ben Bul- 
ben. The Boar of "), and his foster- 
father was Angus Og {q.v.). A 
folk-tale relates how he got the 
love-spot. With his companions 
Goll, Conan, and Oscar, he entered 
a hut for a night's shelter after 
hunting. Here dwelt an old man, 
a young girl, a wether, and a cat. 
As the Fianna sat down to eat, 
the sheep jumped upon the table, 
and only Goll managed to fling 
her off, but was with the others 
finally trodden upon by the 
animal. Then the man sent the 
cat to tether it, which it did. The 

G 



DER 



82 



wether was the World, the cat 
Death. Again, at night the girl 
lay down in the same room with 
the huntsmen and repelled each 
of them as they approached her. 
She was Youth, but she put the 
love-spot on Dermot's forehead, 
and henceforth no woman could 
behold him without loving him. A 
follower of Finn {q.v.), he was 
looked upon as the most sprightly 
and untiring and the boldest of 
the Fianna. Many a deed he had 
done for Finn, but his unwilling 
theft of Grania (q.v.) outdid in 
MacCumhal's estimation all his 
previous services. The story of 
that rape runs thus : Grania, the 
daughter of the High King Cormac 
mac Art, was betrothed to Finn, 
but had set her love upon Dermot. 
She therefore sent a sleeping 
draught by the hand of her maid 
to Finn and the rest of the 
wedding party, save the Fianna 
chiefs, ^ter seeking courtship 
from Oisin (q.v.), but unfruitfully, 
as she had guessed, she turned to 
Dermot. He would not elope 
with her, but she made it geis or 
unlucky for him to refuse, and 
they left Tara by a private wicket- 
gate in her bower. On the way 
he again sought to escape his fate, 
but to no purpose. Finn set out 
in pursuit, and Dermot defended 
himself by his own strength and 
ability and by the aid of his 
foster-father. All over Ireland 
they were pursued, and peasant 
tradition calls the dolmens there 
" Beds of Dermot and Grania." 
But after sixteen years of outlawry 
peace was made through Angus 
Og, and Dermot returned to his 
patrimony and to prosperity. He 
had four sons and a daughter. 
Grania, however, wished to feast 
at her palace the two best men in 
Ireland, Cormac and Finn. Dermot 
had a misgiving, but the party 



DER 

was invited. Toward the end of 
the year of feasting, however, he 
was awakened thrice by the baying 
of a hound. Next morning with 
sword and sling he started o£E to 
learn the cause of the baying, and 
on Ben Bulben in Sligo met Finn 
and some of the Fiaima. They 
were not hunting, but were being 
hunted by a boar, and thirty of 
their number had been slain by 
the beast. Dermot then addressed 
himself to the contest, when Fimi 
informed him that he was under 
geis not to hunt pig, and related 
the story of the murder of Dermot's 
half-brother, and his identity with 
this boar. Finn's purpose was 
now clear, and after a hard defence 
Dermot and his destined slayer 
fell together. But before he died 
he prayed Finn to use his magical 
powers and revive him with water. 
After much delay and dropping of 
the water through his fingers as he 
came from the weU, Finn at last 
brought it, but too late. The 
Fianna chiefs then covered the 
body with their cloaks, and re- 
turned to Rath Grania, Finn 
leading Dermot's hound. Grania 
immediately understood, and 
swooned on the rampart of the 
palace. But the People of Dana 
bore away the corpse on a gilded 
bier, and into the lifeless body 
Angus Og sent a soul that Dermot 
might be able to talk with him 
each day. The framework of the 
tales of Naisi and Dermot are 
identical, but the earlier tale is 
simpler, more heroic, richer, and 
more beautiful. Deirdre's love 
for Naisi is not so much an all- 
sacrificing passion as a deep devo- 
tion : while Grania loves, not so 
sweetly as masterfully. Both have 
fascination, but the one maiden 
is mediaeval, whilst the other 
appears quite nouveau Steele of the 
twentieth century, and not a little 



DES 



83 



"neurotic." Again, the older 
story has a nobler, though a more 
painful, ending, while the latter 
revolts us with the heartless 
return of Grania to Finn. Dermot 
is of that class of hero who, Hke 
Achilles, is invulnerable save at 
one point. The myth of Dermot 
and Grania somewhat recalls the 
general features of that of Tristan 
and Ysolt. Dermot is plainly a 
solar hero. In many world-myths 
the light and darkness are half 
brothers, who end in slaying each 
other. Again, it is noticeable, as 
in the case of Sigurd, that Dermot 
receives a " soul," so that Angus 
Og might be able to talk with ham 
each day — that is, the sun returns 
daily, and cannot be regarded as 
' ' dead. " The gilded bier on which 
the Danaan folk bear Dermot's 
corpse away is, of course, the 
gunset. 

DESA. In Irish romance, foster- 
father of Conary Mor {q.v.). High 
King of Ireland. 

DEWY-RED. In Irish romance, the 
horse of Conall of the Victories. 
At the slaying of Cuchulain (q.v.) 
the steed tore a piece out of 
Lewy's (q.v.) side, and Conall 
thereupon cut o£E his head. 

DIANCECHT. In Irish story, the 
Danaan physician who restored to 
Nuada of the Silver Hand {q.v.) 
his lost limb and thus his throne. 

DICTYS. ( Vide " Dares and Dictys.") 

DIDOT PERCEVAL. This romance is 
so called because the only MS. 
of it discovered belonged to the 
well-known collectbr A. F. Didot. 
It lays great stress on the malady 
of the Fisher King {vide " Grail "), 
and has been called " an incon- 
gruous jumble of hints from 
Borron's work." Its intention was 
undoubtedly to provide a sequel 
to Borron's poems. The tale com- 



DID 

mences with the enchanter retail- 
ing how he constructed the Table 
Round, Christ having made the 
first one, Joseph of Arimathea the 
second, and Merhn the third. He 
tells also about the wealthy Fisher' 
King, who is old and infirm, and 
may not be healed nor made well 
until a holy knight comes to ask 
concerning the Grail. The adven- 
tures of Sir Perceval, who is the 
son of Alein le Gros, are then taken 
up at the point where his father 
dies. The Holy Grail tells Alein 
to send his son to King Arthur's 
Court, where he attains the adven- 
ture of the Perilous seat, learns 
about the Fisher King and the 
Grail, and vows to seek them. 
Many knights make the same vow. 
Perceval then undertakes adven- 
tures much the same as those in 
Gautier's portion of the Conte del 
Graal, especially those at the 
Chessboard Castle and the Stag- 
hunt. He comes then to the 
Fisher King's castle, and sees a 
lance and a silver plate and goblet 
in which was the Eord's blood. 
He would have inquired concerning 
them, but fears to offend the 
king, remembering the command 
laid upon him to be incurious. In 
the morning all the inhabitants of 
the castle have gone, and on going 
forth he is abused. After more 
adventures, the incident of Good 
Friday occurs, as in the other 
Grail romances. MerUn then 
arrives and tells Perceval to go 
to his grandfather, which lie does, 
and asks concerning the Grail. 
The king regains his health, and 
certain enchantments of Britain 
come to an end. Perceval is 
informed about the lance with 
which Eongus pierced Jesus' side, 
and the Grail. The Holy Ghost 
tells Brons the secret words which 
Christ on the cross whispered to 
Joseph, but these are not included. 



DIE 84 

Brons is then carried off by angels, 
and Perceval, who has been in- 
structed in the mystic expressions, 
remains behind. 

DIETHER. {Vide " Dietrich of Bern." 
Son of Dietmar {q.v.) and brother 
to Dietrich. , 

DIETLINDE. {Vide " Nibelungen- 
lied.") Daughter of Rudiger, Mar- 
grave of Bechlarn, and Gotelind. 
She receives with affectionate ser- 
vice Kriemhild {q.v.) on her journey 
to wed Etzel {q.v.). Later, with 
her mother and Rudiger, she helps 
to lavishly entertain the Burgun- 
dians on their way to Etzel's 
court. Ere they leave she is 
betrothed to Giselher {q.v.), the 
youngest brother of Kriemhild. 

DIETMAR. Uncle to King Samson 
{q.v.), who assisted the latter to 
secure the throne of Salern. 

DIETMAR. Brother to Ermenrich 
{q.v.), husband to Odilia {q.v.), and 
father of Dietrich {q.v.). {Vide 
" Dietrich of Bern.") 

DIETRICH OF BERN, SAGA-CYCLE 

OF. A body of semi-traditional 
matter, the central figure of which 
is Theodoric, King of the Ostro- 
goths, who conquered Italy in the 
fifth century. In the course of 
ages the facts concerning Theo- 
doric became so altered by tradi- 
tional processes as to be almost 
unrecognizable. The oldest ver- 
sion of the saga is that found in 
a fragmentary collection known as 
Hildebrandslied (c. 700), copied 
by two monks of Fulda early in 
the ninth century. It related how 
Dietrich or Theodoric was expelled 
from his kingdom by Otonier, 
in whom we recognize Odoacer, 
the Vandal monarch who ruled 
over Italy in the fifth century, 
and who was in reality dethroned 
by Theodoric. This early version 
details how Dietrich, accompanied 



DIE 

by Hildebrand, a faithful retainer, 
took refuge at the court of Attila, 
eventually returning with a large 
force to regain his crown. The 
chief incident is the meeting of 
Hildebrand with his son Hadu- 
brant, whom he had left behind 
to take care of his mother. Hadu- 
brant, having heard rumours of 
his father's death from mariners, 
refuses to beheve in his identity, 
and the fragment concludes with 
an unfinished combat between son 
and sire. We next find Dietrich 
referred to in an Old Low German 
ballad entitled Ermenrichs Tod, 
in which the ancient Gothic King 
Ermanaric is introduced as Diet- 
rich's mortal foe. Defeated by 
Dietrich, Ermenrich shut himself 
up in a certain stronghold with 
350 men. Dietrich came up with 
him with only eleven men at his 
back. The Gothic monarch, 
amused at such a puny investment 
of his fortaliee, threw the gates 
open, when Dietrich and his com- 
panions rushed in and succeeded 
in slaying Ermenrich. In subse- 
quent poems of the Dietrich cycle, 
we find the hero undertaking all 
manner of martial deeds, most of 
which appear to be placed in the 
period of his sojourn at Attila's 
court. He slays a formidable ogre 
who dwelt in its vicinity ; accom- 
panies the Huns in their warlike 
expeditions ; espouses Herrat, 
Attila's niece ; leads twelve Hun- 
nish warriors to Worms to do battle 
with an equal number of Teutonic 
warriors ; and conquers the Bur- 
gundian heroes, Gunter and 
Hagen. In the Dietrichs Flucht 
of Heinrich der Vogler we read 
how one Sibecke plots with Ermen- 
rich (in this tale the uncle of 
Dietrich) against Dietrich's Ufe, 
but the hero, warned of his danger, 
escapes. Here for the first time, 
perhaps, we find Dietrich connected 



DIE 

with Bern {i.e. Verona in the 
north of Italy), where it is stated 
that Ermenrich, disappointed at 
the failure of his conspiracy, 
marched upon that city, but was 
defeated by Dietrich with great 
loss, Witege, a follower of Diet- 
rich, goes over to Ermenrich, and 
surrenders to him the fortress of 
Ravenna. But Dietrich, with a 
new army of Huns, defeats his 
uncle, who shuts himself up in 
Bologna. Dietrich's forces are too 
few to invest the city, and he 
returns to the court of Attila. 
In his Babenschlacht (Battle of 
Ravenna), Vogler continues his 
account of Dietrich's adventures. 
Its central incident is the deaths of 
the hero's brothers and the two 
sons of Attila. In the Nibelun- 
genlied (q.v.) and the Thidrekssaga 
{q.v.), based upon it, strangely 
enough we encounter Dietrich 
taking part in the incident of the 
slaughter of the Burgundians, or, 
rather, standing aside as a mere 
spectator, whilst his friends slay 
each other. His follower, WoH- 
hart, however, involves his com- 
rades in the broU, and all perish 
save old Hildebrand. Dietrich 
avenges their fall by dehvering 
the surviving Burgundians to their 
enemies, who slay them in an 
effort to discover the treasure of 
the Nibelungs. In the Thidreks- 
saga {q.v.), Siegfried {q.v.) is 
brought into contact with Dietrich, 
who worsts him by craft. Prob- 
ably it was inevitable that the 
two great heroes of romance 
should be regarded as contem- 
poraries. In the Biterolf und Diet- 
lieb, an Austrian poem of the early 
thirteenth century, Dietrich and 
twelve of Attila's warriors defeat 
Siegfried and his picked heroes, 
and a similar combat is the motive 
of the Bosengarten zu Worms, an 
Austro-Bavarian poem of the same 



85 DIE 

date. A number of lesser poems 
have crystallized around the saga, 
among which the Alpharts Tod, 
Das Eckenlied, Sigendt, and Laurin 
(all of which see) may be alluded to. 
All these were grafted together 
under the title of Das Heldenbioch 
{q.v.) by one Kaspar von der Roen, 
and published by him in 1472. 
In many such German myths 
Dietrich, by reason of his popu- 
larity, has replaced the original 
hero. Such are the tales of his 
victory over the giants Ecke and 
Fasolt. It is not necessary to 
see in the conqueror of these gods 
or demons of the storm (the 
remnants of a dying mythology) a 
mythical being or hero-god, but 
merely Dietrich as a popular 
hero who had replaced the original 
" giant-Mller " or true hero-god. 
Most of the poems of the cycle are 
silent concerning Dietrich's death, 
but tradition recounts that he was 
carried off to Hell by Satan. 
Later romances describe his dis- 
appearance into a desert, there to 
combat with dangers until the 
Day of Judgment, or into a hollow 
mountain, whilst in popular belief 
he has Joined the band of Odin's 
Wild Huntsmen. In the Dietrich 
saga-cycle we behold the entire 
process of the manufacture of a 
legendary hero from a once living 
monarch concerning whom there 
is trustworthy historical data. 
Theodoric the Ostrogoth by reason 
of his romantic seizure of Italy and 
the general circumstances of his 
life appealed to the men of his 
own Germanic race as the beau- 
ideal of a hero-king and so wide- 
spread did his popularity become 
that, like that of King Arthur, 
his figure collected around itself 
poems, incidents, and lesser epics 
which in the first instance had no 
connection with either his historical 
or legendary personality. 



DIE 

DIETWAR. The Emperor of Rome 
(Romaburg). A legend belonging 
to the Amelung cycle of romance. 
This illustrious emperor, desirous 
of marriage, sends an embassy to 
King Ladmer of Westenmer to ask 
for the hand of his daughter. 
Ladmer is overjoyed at such an 
honour, and begs that Dietwar 
would come to Westenmer and 
see the princess. To this proposal 
Dietwar readily consents, and after 
an adventurous passage, he arrives 
at his destination, accompanied 
by one hundred of his bravest 
warriors. Ladmer, after receiving 
his guest with aU courtesy, told 
him how dehghted he would feel 
to have Dietwar as a son-in-law, 
but, the king added, the princess 
herself must choose who she would 
have as her husband, nor would he 
constrain her against her wiU. A 
feast is given in Dietwar's honour, 
and dressing himself in similar 
apparel to that of his men, he is 
easily recognized by the princess, 
whose duty it was to offer the 
wine to her father's guests. She 
fills his goblet first. After the 
guests had retired Ladmer asked his 
daughter's opinion of her admirer. 
She thought him very noble, but 
added that she would not be satis- 
fied until she had learned of his 
ways, which must be pleasant in 
her sight. The next day a hunt is 
arranged, and the princess implores 
her father that she might be per- 
mitted to join in thechase. Know- 
ing her to be very fond of the 
sport and skilled in the use of the 
bow he willingly gives his consent. 
But Dietwar thinks her un- 
maidenly, and whispers amongst 
his friends that he would prefer to 
confine his searchings for a wife 
to the limits of his own country 
than wed one so mascuhne in her 
sport. But, however, it becomes 
his duty,^along with the rest, to 



86 DIE 

see that the heedless girl comes to 
no danger through her rashness. 
The hunt grows very exciting, and 
passing through a narrow glen 
Miimie wounds a fine stag. Draw- 
ing another arrow from her quiver 
she hastens after her dogs, which 
had pursued the wounded animal. 
Suddenly the hounds set up a 
hideous howl, and rush out of 
the thicket. The hunters reaUze 
their danger, and dreading an 
attack from a dragon, hasten up 
the hill-side. Minnie, in her fool- 
hardiness, awaits the monster, 
which appears from between the 
bushes, hissing dreadfully and 
trampHng everything that ob- 
structs its path. Arrow after 
arrow the princess shoots at the 
dragon, but these only rebounded 
from its scales. At last, Minnie 
turns to go, when she trips over a 
branch. Dietwar and his men 
rush forward, and the dragon 
advances. Dietwar attacks it with 
a spear. But its assailants are 
devoured one after another. The 
fight becomes desperate. Diet- 
war's sMU is useless against its 
scales, and the monster tears his 
breast with its talons. At last, 
thrusting his spear down its throat 
he succeeds, after a terrible struggle, 
in overcoming the dragon. The 
hero falls in a faint to the ground, 
the dying dragon above him. 
He is released and brought back 
to the castle, where he hes in a 
critical condition. The poison 
from the dragon's claws has entered 
his wounded breast, and his life 
is despaired of. No leech could 
save him. But coming to the 
bedside one morning the princess 
poured some liquid from a bottle 
into his wound, which lessened 
the pain. For several days the 
dose is repeated, and he grows 
quite well again. The princess 
then told him that the magic 



DIN 

liquid was given to her by her 
mother when she died, that it was 
to be used only on those she loved. 
They grow strong in love, while 
King Eadmer inwardly rejoices. 
The occasion of their wedding is 
marked by a feast, where in the 
centre of the table is placed as an 
ornament one of the dragon's teeth. 
Dietwar and his wife soon after 
return to Rome to enjoy their 
married hfe amongst his subjects. 
But the romance tells us they Uved 
for four hundred years, during 
which time they have forty-four 
children, of whom one son, Sigeher, 
alone survives them. 

DINADEN, SIR. Knight of the Round 
Table, brother to Sir Lancelot. 
He was the composer of " The 
Lay of King Mar." {Vide " Morte 
d'Arthur.") 

DITHORBA. In Irish romance, 
brother of Red Hugh and Kimbay. 
He was slain by his niece Macha 
(q.v.), who refused to yield to him 
the sovereignty of Ireland. 
Dithorba's five sons were expelled 
from Ulster, and resolved to 
regain the kingdom from Macha. 
But she followed them into the 
forest where they were in hiding, 
overpowered them by her mes- 
meric influence, bound them, and, 
placing them upon her back, 
returned to her palace. Under 
her supervision they built the 
famous Irish city of Emain Macha. 

DIU KLAGE. A continuation of the 
Nibelungenlied {q.v.), which as a 
whole is regarded as being more 
modem than the " Lied." It is 
ascribed by some critics to a 
period so late as the fourteenth 
century. It is artificial in con- 
ception, inartistic in form, and 
inferior to the poem to which it 
professes to be an addition. It is 
obvious, however, as stated by 
Grimm, that in writing it the 



87 DIU 

author did not have before him 
the Nibelungenlied as we know it, 
but an earlier version ; and this 
probably constitutes its greatest 
value, as by its aid we are enabled 
to discover several of the dis- 
crepancies between the older MS. 
and that in our possession. The 
Klage is a lament for those who 
have fallen in the terrific strife 
in Etzel's palace described in the 
Nibelungenlied. It tells of the 
search among the dead in the 
house of slaughter, their obsequies, 
the journey of Etzel's minstrel 
Swemmelin to the Rhine to give 
the tidings to Queen Brunhilt, 
and the final parting from Etzel 
of Dietrich and his wife Herrat. 
Dietrich, desirous of sparing his 
niece Gotehnde, Rudiger's wife, 
directs his friends not to mention 
the terrible event which has 
happened, but to say that he and 
Riidiger will soon follow. The 
messengers deliver the false tidings. 
Gotelinde and her daughter are 
doubtful, and at length Swemme- 
lin tells the truth. Gotehnde and 
old Queen Ute die soon after 
hearing the news. BrunhUt sur- 
vives, and is prevailed upon by 
her vassals to have her son crowned. 
Etzel, after parting with Dietrich, 
becomes insane. Dietelint, the 
young margaravine, is taken under 
Dietrich's protection, who promises 
to find her a husband. Bishop 
Pilgrin desires to have the story 
written out in Latin letters, " that 
men should deem it true." A 
writer. Master Konrad {q.v.), then 
Commenced to set it down in 
writing. 

DIU KRONE. A German Grail poem 
by Heinrich von dem Tiirlin. 
{Vide " Grail, Holy.") It repro- 
duces a lost French original. It 
possesses many paralleUsms with 
those of Wolfram and Chretien, 



DIU 



88 



for example, the tournament for 
the hand of Tiebaut of Tingaguel's 
daughter, the episode of the two 
sisters and the combat with Mehans 
de Lis. The father is named 
Leigamar, the eldest daughter 
Fursensephin (Fleur sans epine), 
the youngest Quelbelpluz, where 
the author has mistaken a French 
phrase signifying the damsel's 
beauty for her name. The name 
of the castle is Karamphi. The 
wounded knight Eohenis and his 
lady, Embhe, deprive Gawain of 
his horse, after which the incident 
of the Castle of Wonders and the 
enchanted bed are dealt with. 
The plucking of a flower from an 
enchanted garden at the bidding 
of a damsel named MancipiceUe 
(the OrgueiUeuse of Chretien) and 
the meeting with Giremelanz 
follow. Giremelanz challenges 
Gawain, and Arthur's court comes 
to the Castle of Wonders to 
witness the combat. The cham- 
pions are reconciled, and Gireme- 
lanz marries Gawain's sister. Ga- 
wain sets forth in search of the 
Grail, and wins several talismans 
which will aid him in his quest. 
He comes to the sister of the 
magician Gansguoter (Klinschor 
in Wolfram), who tells him that 
if he wishes to behold the Grail, 
he must not be overcome by 
sleep, that he must not drink 
excessively, and that as soon as 
he sees it and its accompanying 
damsels he must ask concerning 
it. He meets with many adven- 
tures and marvels on his way to 
the Grail castle, and after a space 
meets with Lancelot and Calo- 
creant, who inform him that Kay, 
attempting to enter the Grail 
castle, has been cast into prison. 
The three knights then come to the 
castle. In a splendid hall lies an 
old man who watches two youths 
playing chess. The hall fills with 



DOD 

knights and dames, and a youth 
enters who lays a sword before 
the old man. Gawain is offered 
drink. He refuses, but his two 
companions accept, and soon after 
fall asleep. There enter two 
maidens bearing hghts, followed 
by two knights bearing a spear, 
and two other maidens with a 
great dish of gold and jewels. 
After them comes the fairest 
woman ever made by God, and 
with her a maiden weeping. The 
spear is laid on the table beside 
the great dish, in which are three 
drops of blood. The fair woman 
bears a box in which is bread, 
whereof she gives a third part to 
the old man. Gawain recognizes 
in her Gansguoter's sister, and 
asks her what these marvels mean. 
At once the entire company rise 
from the table with a great cry of 
joy, the old man tells Gawain that 
the dish he has seen is the Grail, 
and that by his question Gawain 
has dehvered from long waiting 
and suffering many both dead and 
living. The old man and his com- 
panions are really dead, though 
they do not seem to be so, but 
the lady and her maidens are 
living. They partake of food 
aimually with the old man because 
of their purity. Gawain receives 
as the prize of his valour the Grail 
sword, which wiU help him in 
every danger. After him no man 
shall see the Grail, and he must 
ask no more concerning it. At 
daybreak the old man ceases 
speaking, and vanishes with his 
whole court, leaving only the lady 
and her maidens. Gawain releases 
Kay, and returns to Arthur's 
court. 

DIURAN THE RHYMER. (Vide 

" Maeldune.") 

DODINEL. A character in Manes- 
sier's portion of the Conte del 



DOL 

Graal (q.v.), whose lady-love is 
delivered by Perceval from a 
felon knight. 

DOLOROUS, CASTLE. Connected in 
Arthurian legend with Sir Perceval 
(or Percy veUe), and as the spot 
where two of the Knights of the 
Round Table lost their wits. 

DONN (1). In Irish romance, son of 
Midir the Proud (q.v.). He is 
mentioned in the Colloquy of the 
Ancients {q.v.), as entertaining 
Finn and Kelta and five other 
champions at the Brugh of Sheve- 
namon. These were hunting one 
day at Torach when they roused a 
beautiful fawn and chased it as 
far as Slievenamon. Here it 
vanished underground, and night 
fatting with snow and storm, they 
sought shelter in the wood. Enter- 
ing a great illuminated hall of a 
noble mansion or brugh, they 
beheld twenty-eight warriors and 
as many beautiful maidens. After 
feasting on the best of wine and 
viands they were informed that 
their hosts were Donn mac Midir 



89 EBE 

and his brother, and that the aid 
of the Fiaima was sought against 
the rest of the Danaan folk, for 
thrice yearly their chieftains had 
had to do battle with their fairy 
foes on the green in front of the 
brugh. Each of the eight and 
twenty warriors had once a thou- 
sand followers, but all these were 
now dead, and therefore the 
warriors had sent one of the 
maidens in the form of a fawn to 
seek the aid of the Fianna. After 
a year of successful fighting, the 
assailants were compelled to make 
peace and to give hostages. 

DONN (2). "Father of Dermot " (q.v.). 

DROO. {Vide " Garin the Eorrainer.") 
Count of Amiens, friend of Fro- 
mont. He heard from Fromont 
the story of Garin and Blanch- 
flower, which he treated with con- 
tempt, but went to Baldwin the 
Fleming and persuaded him to 
allow his sister to marry Fromont, 
concealing the true story. 

DURANDAL. The wondrous sword 
of Roland {q.v.). 



EADZILS. (Legend of Beoumlf.) 
Brother of Eanmund {q.v.) son of 
Ohtere, King of Sweden. After 
the murder of King Hardred {q.v.) 
and the death of Eanmund, Eadzil 
fled back to Sweden, and soon 
after succeeded his father on the 
Swedish throne. He then led a 
large army into Gothland to 
avenge Eanmund's death, but was 
defeated and slain. 

EANMUND. (Legend of Beowulf.) 
Son of Ohtere, King of Sweden, 
against whom he rebelled. He 
subsequently fled to the court of 
King Hardred {q.v.). Resenting a 
reproof from the young king, he 



stabbed him in a fit of passion, 
and was himself slain immediately 
by Wickstan {q.v.). 

EBEL. Sir, In Arthurian romance, 
knight to Bang Hermance of the 
Red City {q.v.). {Vide "Morte 
d' Arthur. ") 

EBER DONN. In Irish romance, a 
leader of the Mlesian invaders of 
Ireland. He exulted so fiercely in 
the hope of putting the defenders 
of Ireland to the sword that the 
Danaans, or original inhabitants, 
raised a tempest by enchantment 
which sank his ship and many 
others of the Milesian host. 



EBE 

EBER FINN. In Irish romance, a 
leader of the Milesian invaders of 
Ireland. He was slain by Eremon, 
first Milesian King of Ireland, in 
a contest for the crown. 

ECKE, THE LAY OF. A poem of 
the Heldenhuch {q.v.), which opens 
with three heroes — ^Fasolt, Ecke 
and Ebenrot — sitting together in 
the town of Cologne, relating deeds 
of valour. The talk is chiefly 
about Lord Dietrich of Bern, who 
all agree to be the bravest man 
of his time. But Lord Ecke is 
jealous of the praise bestowed on 
the Knight of Bern, and inquires 
if he is not as brave and worthy 
of esteem as Lord Dietrich. Ecke 
resolves to go in search of this 
vaUant hero, fight him, and so 
gain equal renown, or else lose his 
own life. He goes on to describe 
his own deeds of valour, and how 
it would cast more distinction on 
him to slay one such as Dietrich 
of Bern than a dozen of weaker 
strength. Three queens were 
sitting by, listening to the talk ; 
the greatest, Queen Seburk, be- 
wails her fate at not having seen 
this famous lord, and wishes Ecke 
success in his quest ; at the same 
time, promising him the wonderful 
breastplate that had belonged to 
King Otnit of Lombardy, on con- 
dition that, if he find and over- 
come the Prince of Bern, he will 
spare him. Ecke promised to 
bring back Dietrich, or lose his 
life. An old man warns Ecke of 
the dangers of his quest, which 
caution the headstrong youth 
ignores. He is promised, in re- 
ward, the love of any of the three 
queens he may choose. The best 
horse in the land is offered him, 
which he dechnes, and sets off on 
foot, fully armed, and wearing the 
famous breastplate. On entering 
the town of Bern, the people fly 



90 ECK 

before him, for his armour glows 
like fire. Hildegrand, seeing him, 
remarks that a quieter garb would 
be more suited for an interview 
with his lord. Ecke makes reply 
that three renowned queens desire 
to behold Dietrich, and have sent 
Ecke as their messenger, who will 
use force, if need be. Hildegrand 
answers that his errand is useless ; 
his lord only fights with those who 
come on horseback, and advises 
him to quit Bern. After some 
more parley, he informs Ecke that 
Lord Dietrich is from home — 
journeying through the forest to- 
wards Tyrol. Continuing his way, 
Ecke has an encounter with a 
centaur, which he kills. Coming 
upon a wounded man, he asks who 
has left him in such a pUght, and 
is told it was the Prince of Bern. 
After hearing some more tales of 
the knight's courage, which inflame 
his ardour, he binds up the man's 
woimds, declares he will avenge 
him, and proceeds on his way. 
Ecke at last meets Dietrich in a 
dark valley, and gives him his 
message ; he also praises his own 
armour, and tells Dietrich he has 
a chance of winning it. The latter 
rephes that, if his sword is so 
sharp as to hurt giants, it is use- 
less for him to strive against so 
formidable a foe. Ecke is bitterly 
disappointed at his unwillingness 
to fight, and upbraids him with 
cowardice. Dietrich replies that 
he will not fight, for he (Ecke) has 
done him no harm ; but, if he 
must fight, to wait till it is day- 
light. Goaded by Ecke's taunts, 
Dietrich dismounts, and they en- 
gage in combat. In the end Ecke 
is killed. Dietrich, sorely grieved, 
laments over the death of so brave 
and rash a hero. 

The Ecke is a continuation of 
Sigendt {vide "Dietrich of Bern"). 
The lay was a very popular one, 



ECK 

but, in its present shape, wo 
appear to have only a late rehash 
of the originals. 

ECKEHART. A trusty friend of 
Dietrich of Bern (q.v.), and a lover 
of adventure. As a figure in the 
Rose Garden (q.v.) Battle, he is 
conspicuous. He fought with 
Dietrich against King Waldemar 
(q.v.). 

ECNE. (Knowledge or Poetry.) In 
Irish romance, the only son of the 
three sons of Dana or Brigit, the 
supreme Danaan goddess. 

ECTOR, SIR. In Arthurian romance, 
the foster-father of Arthur. He 
received him immediately on his 
birth on the recommendation of 
Merlin, and brought him up with 
his own son Kay, or Kai (q.v.), 
afterwards Arthur's seneschal. It 
was upon Arthur succeeding in 
drawing out the magic sword from 
the anvil placed in the great 
church of Eondon that he revealed 
to him that he was not his father. 
Consult the Morte d' Arthur, First 
Book, chapters iii. and v. 

EDDAS, THE. Two Icelandic collec- 
tions of matter deaUng with the 
divine and heroic mythology of 
the Scandinavian race. (1) The 
" Elder " or " poetic " Edda was 
brought to hght by the Icelandic 
bishop, Brynjulf Sveinsson, about 
1643. It was at first attributed 
to the historian Saemund (c. 
1050), but is now considered as the 
work of other hands. The thirty- 
five poems which it contains are 
anonymous, and older than the 
MS. which contains them, which is 
of the thirteenth century. It is 
known as the Codex Regius, and 
is preserved in the Royal Library 
at Copenhagen. Most of the 
poems it contains date from about 
the tenth century. It includes 
prototypes of many of the later 



91 EDD 

Teutonic romantic cycles ; for 
example, early poems relating to 
the Volsunga Saga and the Nibelun- 
genlied. The Edda throws great 
light on the mythology of the 
Scandinavian race, but here we 
will treat of such of its contents as 
have a bearing on the later 
Teutonic romance-cycles, and will 
omit further reference to the purely 
mythological matter it contains. 
Some of the poems contained in 
the Edda are little more than 
lyrics, presenting as they do per- 
haps an idyll of a single scene. 
Others, again, give an abstract of 
an entire history^ as in the case 
of the Prophecy of Gripir, in which 
the whole history of the Volsungs 
is summarized. The Edda con- 
tains poems belonging to the 
following heroic cycles : Weland 
the Smith, Sigurd and the 
Mbelungs, the Ermanric cycle and 
the Helgi lays, all of which are 
dealt with under their several 
headings. The versions of these 
stories as given in the Edda are 
in many respects divergent from 
that in which they appear in later 
times, and each of these cycles is 
made up of several poems which 
represent more or less the several 
portions of the later sagas. For 
example, the Lay of Gudrun, a 
portion of the prototype of the 
Volsimg story, leaves the details 
of that saga very much in neglect, 
and shows up the grief of Gudrun 
in contradistinction to that of 
Brunhild in the Volsunga Saga. 
In short, the Edda may be said to 
assist the theory that the first 
stage of epic is ballad, and that 
not only do structural changes take 
place in such compositions in the 
course of generations, through 
political and other reasons, but 
that popular taste demands such 
alterations. (2) The "Younger" 
or " prose " Edda was compiled 



EGL 



92 



by the historian Snorre Sturluson 
(1178-1241). It also contains 
many references to the old Scan- 
dinavian mythology, but the 
Skaldskaparmal a portion of it, is 
a treatise on the art of poetry. 
The work was first discovered in 
MS. in 1625. It is preserved in 
three MSS., one a fine copy at 
Upsala. In it Snorre explained 
the mythical references available 
for the poetry of his day, the out- 
look of which was naturally very 
diSerent to that of the makers of 
the elder Edda. Practically nothing 
is touched upon in it which deals 
with the matter of romance. 

EGLAMOUR OF ARTOYS, SIR. A 

mediaeval EngUsh romance of 
French origin. The commence- 
ment of the poem refers to the 
period when the country of Artois 
was a self-dependent state. During 
its independence a native count 
Sir Prinsamour reigned over that 
country. He made his court a 
training school in the art of 
chivalry, and his daughter Christa- 
bell became the centre of admira- 
tion. She is especially adored by 
Sir Eglamour of Artoys, who, 
although a poor knight, aspires 
very nobly to win her. The 
princess, in return, encourages 
Eglamour to approach her father. 
Eglamour does so, but the prin- 
cess's father, aware of Eglamour's 
poverty, and anxious that his 
daughter's position might rather 
be elevated than lowered, rejects 
indirectly her suitor's appeal ; 
but adds, that he will grant his 
wish and the lands of Artois, if 
he fulfUs three adventures. The 
count then directs Eglamour to 
defy the giant Sir Maroke, by 
hunting in the latter's preserves, 
after which he must return with 
a trophy. The young knight de- 
parts on the first adventure. 



EGL 

He enters the forest of the 
giant, and slays three harts by the 
aid of a hound which his love 
bestowed upon him. He then 
meets the giant. The encounter 
lasted two days, at the end of 
which the knight stabbed the 
giant through the heart. He then 
cut off his head, and departed with 
the trophy to the court of the 
count. Prinsamour now orders 
him to bring from the distant land 
of Satyn the head of a prodigious 
boar, whose tusks were of excep- 
tional length, and which had 
devoured a large number of 
knights. He is successful in slay- 
ing the monster, and towards the 
close of the conflict the noise of 
the boar attracts the attention of 
Edmond, King of Satjm, who, on 
learning the cause, hastens to 
the scene of combat. The king, 
dehghted with the victory, im- 
mediately offers to the victor the 
hand of his daughter Ardanata. 
This offer the knight poUtely but 
firmly refuses ; but the princess, 
who had instantly fallen in love 
with the stranger, decides to wait 
in the hope of gaining him. 
Hardly had this taken place, when 
there appears before them a pre- 
vious claimant to the princess. 
This lover is the giant Manas, 
brother to Sir Maroke whom 
Eglamour had slain, and closely 
allied in friendship to the dead 
boar. Immediately he espies his 
slain friend and learns the story 
of the tragedy, he assails Eglamour, 
but is slain by him. Bearing the 
two grisly heads, and wearing a ring 
which Ardanata had bestowed 
upon him, the brave knight enters 
the capital of Prinsamour. But 
the count, who stiU hoped for 
Eglamour's death, showed but 
little pleasure at the knight's 
victories. Crystabell, on the other 
hand, displays much dehght at 



EGL 



93 



her lover's conflicts, and welcomes 
his return with joy. The lovers, 
anticipating the easy accomphsh- 
ment of the third feat, now give 
way to the impulse of their pas- 
sions. A few weeks of tranquility 
soon pass, and once more Eglamour 
sets off to complete the last ad- 
venture, leaving with his mistress 
the enchanted ring. This time 
he is directed towards Rome, for 
the purpose of kilUng a powerful 
dragon, which had long ravaged 
the neighbourhood of that city. 
This final enterprise is hkewise 
successful. The dragon faUs after 
a stubborn fight, but not before 
wounding Eglamour with his 
poisonous claws. Eglamour then 
deprives the slain monster of his 
tail, wings, and head. He falls iU 
as a result of the poison, and Con- 
stantino the Roman Emperor keeps 
him under the care of his daugh- 
ter, Viatdur, who soon through 
her remedies restores the victor to 
health. This project having lasted 
longer than the previous adven- 
ture, raises hopes in the count 
as to the death of Eglamour. 
But Crystabell gives birth to a boy. 
Such an event puts to an end all 
Prinsamour's high hopes for his 
daughter ; and vowing vengeance, 
he banishes her from the land. 
She and her infant son are placed 
in a vessel Avithout mariners, sails, 
oars, or rudder, and abandoned to 
the winds and waves. The vessel 
brings her to an uninhabited 
island, where a griffin carries off 
her son, who is enveloped in a 
scarlet mantle and who wears a 
golden girdle. The hopeless 
mother, who has remained in the 
vessel, arrives on the shores of 
Egypt, where she is discovered and 
conveyed to the king, who for- 
tunately turns out to be her uncle. 
Here she remains under his 
guardianship. Her infant son 



EGL 

meanwhile is carried to Israel, and 
is discovered by the king of that 
country, who names the child 
Degrabell. He receives a good 
education, and becomes in pro- 
cess of time an accomplished 
knight. Sir Eglamour returns 
with the dragon's head to Artois, 
to learn the whole extent of his 
misfortune. After depriving the 
heartless Prinsamour of his lands 
and driving him to his castle, 
Eglamour sets out on a visit to 
the Holy Land, where during 
fifteen years he distinguishes him- 
self against the unbehevers. At 
this time the King of Israel, 
anxious that his adopted son 
should marry, sets out together 
with Degrabell, whom he had 
lately knighted, to visit the King 
of Egypt, who, as the former knew, 
possessed a beautiful niece. The 
latter king willingly consents to 
the union of his niece to the 
former's adopted son, and as a 
consequence the wedding takes 
place — a union in marriage of 
mother and son. Hardly were the 
festivities over, when the bride 
casts her eyes upon the shield of 
Degrabell, which bore a grifiSn 
holding in its talons an infant 
wrapped in a scarlet mantle. She 
immediately bursts into tears, and 
relating the whole story, is at once 
released from the unnatural union. 
The King of Israel, however, still 
maintains that his niece should 
marry, and acting accordingly he 
announces a tournament. The 
challenge brings together the best 
knights of which the surrounding 
countries could boast. There also 
arrives Sir Eglamour, but only as 
a spectator. The conditions of the 
fight make it necessary for tha 
victor to overcome Degrabell ; 
but the latter proves too powerful 
for the contestants. This causes 
no little alarm to the king, who, 



EIS 94 

observing Eglamour, requests hiiri) 
as a last resort, to enter the lists. 
This the latter does, but very 
reluctantly. Degrabell is however 
overcome by this last rival, and 
the king, in accordance with his 
promise, offers his niece to the 
victor. Crystabell then comes 
forward, and on observing the new- 
comer's shield finds thereon the 
representation of a ship of gold, 
containing a lady and an infant 
surrounded by waves. These 
armorial bearings lead her to dis- 
cover the victor's identity. Egla- 
mour is delighted at their reunion, 
and amid general rejoicings their 
marriage takes place . They return 
to Artois, to find that the count 
having fallen from his tower was 
dead. Ardanata's constancy is 
rewarded by her marriage to 
Degrabell. 

EISIRT. In Irish Ossianic romance, 
a bard to lubdan. King of Faylinn, 
the abode of a dwarfish race. He 
heard of the Fomorian folk in 
Ulster, and, taunting the king 
concerning the size of the inhabi- 
tants of the respective kingdoms, 
was imprisoned for his insolence. 
He was freed on the understanding 
that he would seek out this land 
of giants, which he accordingly 
did, and arrived at Ulster, whence 
he returned with the king's dwarf 
iEda. The people of FayUnn were 
terrified at the sight of ^da, and 
lubdan was so taunted by Eisirt 
that he resolved to visit Ulster 
himself. (Vide " lubdan.") 

ELAINE. Daughter of King Pelles 
and mother of Galahad, son of 
Lancelot (q.v.). She is despised 
by Queen Guinevere {q.v.), because 
of her love for Lancelot. [Vide 
" Morte d'Arthur.") 

EL6EGAST. A dwarf friendly to- 
ward Dietrich (q.v.) during the 



ELI 

latter's search for the giant Grim 
(q.v.). ( Vide " Dietrich of Bern.") 

ELEVEN KINGS, THE. Who allied 
themselves against Arthur, as they 
suspected his royal birth. They 
were King Brandegoris of Strang- 
gore, the Duke of Cambenet, King 
Clariance of Northimiberland, the 
King of the Hundred Knights, King 
Lot of Lothian and Orlmey (q.v.). 
King Urience of the Land of Gore, 
King Idres of Cornwall, King 
Cradelmas, King Agwisance of 
Ireland, King Nentres, and King 
Carados. They were defeated by 
Arthur in a great battle with the 
assistance of King Ban and King 
Bors (q.v.). 

ELIDUC, THE LAY OF. A French 
romance written by Marie de 
France (q.v.), and according to 
her, of Breton origin. EUduc 
stood high in the favour of his 
suzerain, the King of Brittany, 
and upon that monarch's absence 
from his realm, was his lord's 
justice and seneschal. But 
jealous tongues accused Eliduc of 
meddling with the royal affairs, 
and he was banished from the 
court. In vain he prayed the 
king to name his offence. With 
ten followers he therefore set out^ 
accompanied for some distance by 
Guildeluec, his wife. In her hands 
he had placed his fief, and to each 
other husband and wife had sworn 
fidehty. Eliduc then sailed across 
to the realm of Totenois, and, 
hearing that the King of Logres, 
near Exeter, was sorely pressed 
by an importunate lover of his fair 
daughter, took service with the 
old man. Learning of the enemy's 
entrance and exit through a certain 
wood-path, he trapped him and 
freed the kingdom of his assaults. 
The old king greatly rejoiced in 
his new knight, and after a year's 
service appointed him seneschal 



ELI 



95 



ELI 



and constable of his realm. But 
the young princess had not seen 
this knight, and therefore sent 
her chamberlain to ask him to 
visit her. EUduc and Guillardun, 
the maid, loved with an unspoken 
love. But the princess desiring 
to learn if her father's seneschal 
returned her love, sent him a girdle 
and a ring. These he took from 
her chamberlain, put the one about 
his body, the other upon his finger. 
For a year the lovers exchanged 
gifts, embraces, and sweet words. 
Then having put an end to the 
invader's war, Elidue fared Brit- 
tany-wards to the succour of his 
king. For this monarch, being 
sore beset- by a strong enemy, 
diligently sought for tidings of his 
lost seneschal. Learning of his 
whereabouts, he prayed him by 
their former love and his oath of 
fealty to return to Brittany. 
GuiUardim having set a term to 
his absence, EUduc then crossed 
to his home, where all, and espe- 
cially his wife, welcomed him with 
rejoicing. He vanquished the foe, 
but ever he went sad and thought- 
ful. Care sat heavy upon Guil- 
deluec's heart, nor could she learn 
what ailed her lord. As promised, 
he returned upon the appointed 
day to the land of his love. Wait- 
ing without the city, he sent his 
chamberlain to tell the lady of his 
arrival. She attired herself for 
the journey, and entered with 
Ehduc into his vessel. But a 
storm arose. Dismayed and in 
terror, one of the company advised 
EHduc to cast the lady overboard^, 
for on her account had God sent 
His tempest. The unfortunate 
Guillardun then learned that her 
lover was already wed, and 
straightway fell into a death-like 
swoon. Then the sorrowing 
knight, upon reaching land, bore 
her to a chapel in a wood near his. 



home, and laid her in his cloak 
upon the altar. Hither he came 
daily to mourn her death. But his 
wife, grown suspicious, sent a 
varlet to follow her lord. The 
fellow returned to relate how he 
had seen the knight enter the 
chapel and mourn loudly. Guil- 
deluec, thinking it strange that her 
husband should so grievously 
lament the death of the hermit 
whom he had so often visited in 
previous years, followed her varlet 
to the woodj'entered the chapel with 
him, and beheld the fair maiden 
upon the altar. And she too wept 
for sorrow that such a lovely lady 
should be laid in the dust, and 
forthwith understood her' lord's 
lamentation. As she gazed upon 
the princess's beautiful fq.ce a 
weasel scampered across the body 
and was immediately slain by her 
varlet's staff. Then its com- 
panion, finding that it could not 
rise, hastened distractedly to the 
wood and brought back a vermeil 
flower. This she put in the dead 
weasel's mouth, when he rose to 
his feet. Guildeluec immediately 
commanded her varlet to seize that 
flower. She then put it in the 
maiden's mouth, who after a time 
awoke, and told the, dame her 
story. And learning that EUduc 
was no felon who had deserted 
her, she was much comforted. 
The wife, desiring to take the veil, 
prayed her husband to loose her 
of her marriage ties, and to install 
her as abbess in a new-built church 
near that chapel. EUduc then 
wedded Guillardun, and together 
they Uved for many years in 
peace and happiness. After some 
time the knight built a church 
beside his castle, entered into the 
service of God, and set his wife 
under Guildeluec's care. Mes- 
sages were exchanged from monasr 
tery and convent, and all three 



ELI 

lovers died in peace and salva- 
tion. 

ELIEZER. Son of King PeUes, al- 
luded to in the Queste del Saint 
Graal (q.v.) as master of the white 
knights whom Lancelot encounters 
in tourney with a band of black 
knights who take him prisoner. 
{Vide "Argastes.") 

ELLIDE. {Vide " Frithjof Saga.") 
The dragon-hke ship of Frjthjof. 
Golden-headed and with open jaws, 
its under part scaled with blue and 
gold, its tail twisted and of silver, 
its sails red-bordered and black, 
it would sMm the calmest seas 
when its wings were outspread. 
Aegir, the sea-god, had given this 
ship to one of Frithjof's ancestors 
as a reward for having befriended 
him unknown. 

ELSUNG, YARL. (Earl) of Berne 
(Verona), who refused King Sam- 
son's {q.v.) demands. He was 
consequently assailed and slain by 
Samson, who died through a 
wound which Elsung inflicted. 

EMER. Daughter of Forgall. {Vide 
" Cuchulain.") 

ENFANCES GARIN DE MONTGLANE. 

{Vide " Garin de Montglane.") 

ENFANCE GUILLAUME. (The Child- 
hood of William.) A romance of 
the WUham of Orange sub-cycle of 
the Charlemagne cycle. {Vide 
"William of Orange.") It tells how 
Aymery of Narbonne has seven 
sons, for the four eldest of whom 
the emperor sends, promising that 
after a few years' service he will 
enrich them. WUliam the younger 
son, refuses, as he wishes to carve 
out his own fortune. His brothers 
Guibert, Hemaut, Bevis and 
Gueiin wish to accompany him, 
but Bernard, the eldest son, de- 
sires to serve the emperor, and 



96 ENG 

sneers at the others for following 
a younger brother. William de- 
clares that he is in reaUty the 
head of the family, and that he 
will vouch for the fortunes of all. 
He is at last persuaded to go by 
Aymery, and obeys his father, but 
declares that when he is a knight 
he wiU conquer Spain to endow 
his brothers. The rest of the 
poem is occupied with details of 
the early prowess of WiUiam, 
armed with a great staff, his love- 
passages with Orable of Orange, 
and his rescue of Narbonne, be- 
sieged by the Arab King Tybalt, 
Orable's husband. 

ENFANCES VIVIEN. (The Childhood 
of Vivien.) A romance of the 
WiUiam of Orange sub-cycle of 
the Charlemagne cycle. {Vide 
"Wilham of Orange.") In this 
romance WiUiam's nephew, Vivien, 
is introduced. He bears a strong 
resemblance to Roland {q.v.). The 
story of his childhood, as told in 
this poem, is later than the other 
branches of his story, which belong 
to the sub-cycle of William of 
Orange, and does not agree with 
them in its circumstances. He is 
exchanged for his father, Garin 
of Anseune {q.v.), of the race of 
Aymery,- who has been taken 
prisoner by the " Saracens " at 
Roncevaux. Garin teUs his wife 
by messenger not to give up the 
boy, who is seven years old. A 
f aroUy council is held, and WiUiam 
of Orange proposes that he should 
go. In the Covenant Vivien {q.v.), 
the sequel to this romance, the 
further events in the life of the 
hero are recounted. 

ENGUERRAUD. {Vide "Garin the 
Lorrainer.") Knight of Courcy, 
sent by Fromont to the court, to 
complain of Aubrey giving his 
land to Rigaut to fight against the 
Bordelais. 



ENY 



97 



ENYGEUS, ENYSGEUS, or ANYSGEUS. 
Alluded to in Robert de Borron's 
romance of Joseph of Arimathea 
{q.v.), as the sister of Joseph and 
wife of Brons (q.v.). She follows 
him to far-off lands. It is com- 
manded by a voice from the Holy 
Ghost that a certain seat at the 
common table of the Grail com- 
pany must not be filled up until 
she have a child by Brons, who 
shall fill it. 

EOCHY (1). Son of Ere, King of 
the Firbolgs, in Irish romance, and 
husband of Taltiu {q.v.). 

EOCHY (2). King of Ireland. 
The nobihty of Ireland urged 
him to take a wife, and refused 
to bring their own spouses to 
the assembly at Tara until he 
had done so. He wed Etain, 
daughter of Etar (q.v.), but Mdir 
the Proud (q.v.) came to him at 
Tara, and challenged him to a 
game of chess. He permitted 
Eochy to consider himself the 
better player, and, having agreed 
with him that the stakes should 
be at the pleasure of the winner, 
defeated him, and carried off 
Etain. (Vide also " AiUll.") 

EPONOGRIS, SIR. Son of the King 
of Northumberland (q.v.). He 
was constantly in love, but 
does not loom very large in 
Arthurian romance . (Vide" Morte 
d'Arthur.") 

EQUITAN, THE LAY OF. A romance 
of Brittany, written by Marie de 
France (q.v.). Equitan was King 
of Nantes, and, fond of pleasure, 
he would often put his business 
into the hands of his seneschal. 
Now this lord had a very beautiful 
wife, for whom the king fell sick 
of love. Equitan, therefore, went 
ahunting in his woods. After the 
chase he found an opportunity to 
unbosom himself to the lady. 



ERE 

Discreet as beautiful, she at first 
refused to listen to him. Eventu- 
ally, however, the king overcame 
her scruples, and tiU death those 
lovers kept their secret. But their 
day of reckoning did not fail to 
come. The lady learning that the 
king would wed her upon her 
husband's death, prepared a speedy 
end for her lord. He and his 
master were to hunt in her domains , 
to be bled together for their health, 
and to bathe at the same time. 
Her husband's bath, however, she 
was to fill with boiHng water. All 
this was done. The evil day 
arrived. The king and the lady, 
awaiting the seneschal's approach, 
sat on his bed in a loving embrace. 
They had set a maiden to watch 
for his coming, but he, being im- 
patient, thrust by her and came 
upon the lovers clasped in each 
others' arms. Thinking only of 
his dishonour, the king jumped 
into the bath prepared for the 
lady's husband ; while he, divining 
all, thrust his faithless wife head 
first after her lover. 

ERC. ICng of Ireland, and enemy 
of Cuchulain (q.v.). At the last 
battle of that hero. Ere seized one 
of his spears, and wounded his 
celebrated horse, the Grey of 
Macha, to the death. 

EREC, SIR. One of the five knights 
— Gauvain, Sagremore, Beduers, 
Hurgains — ^with whom Sir Perceval 
makes a solemn covenant that he 
will not sleep twice on the same 
spot until he had discovered the 
whereabouts of the " rich " fisher, 
. the keeper of the Holy GraiL 

EREMON. The first Milesian King 
of Ireland, said to have been con- 
temporary with King David. He 
was the elder of two brothers, 
but after the victory of the 
Milesians over the Danaans, Eber 
his brother refused to obey him, 

H 



ERI 

and war ensued, in which Eber 
was slain. 

ERI. The mother of King Bres (q.v.), 
in Irish romance, and a woman of 
the Danaan folk. The father of 
Bres was unknown when the 
Danaans chose him for Mng. 
But Nuada of the Silver Hand 
(q.v.) being made king in his 
stead, Bres went to consult his 
mother Eri as to his course of 
conduct, who told him that his 
father was a King of the Fomorians 
called Elatha, and through the 
representations of that monarch 
he received aid from the Fomorians, 
who oppressed Ireland sorely for 
many years. 

ERIC, YARL. {Vide " Gunnlaug 
Saga.") Co-ruler of Norway with 
his brother Svein. 

ERIN. Wife of the Danaan King 
Mac Grene (q.v.). The poetical 
name of Ireland is taken from the 
dative case of her name. 

ERLE OF THOULOUSE, THE. An 

Enghsh metrical romance, written 
in the reign of Henry VI., probably 
by Thomas Chestre, or rather 
adapted by him from a French or 
Breton lai of the same name. 
It teUs how Diocletian, the Em- 
peror of Germany, has a rupture 
with Barnard, Earl of Thoulouse, 
concerning boundaries of territory. 
Although dissuaded by his beauti- 
ful consort from taking the field, 
the emperor meets Barnard in 
battle and is worsted by him. 
Among other prisoners the earl 
takes is Sir Tralabas of Turkey, 
whom he adopts as a companion. 
They talk of the charms of the 
empress. The earl waxes curious 
to see her, and offers Tralabas his 
freedom if he can succeed in 
guiding him to the emperor's 
court, and obtain for him a sight 
of her without jeopardy or dis- 



98 ERM 

covery to himself. Arrived at the 
emperor's court, Tralabas turns 
traitor, and proposes to the em- 
press that the earl should be 
assassinated. She rejects the pro- 
posal with scorn, pledges Tralabas 
not to mention the matter to any- 
one else, and desires to see the 
earl next day in the chapel at 
Mass. On leaving the chapel the 
earl asks an alms of the empress, 
receives a valuable ring, and 
returns home. The emperor, 
called away to war, leaves his wife 
in the care of three noblemen who, 
unable to gain her love, resolve to 
besmirch her good name. She is 
thrown into prison, and on the 
emperor's return he credits the 
scandal trumped up against her. 
She is sentenced to be burned ; 
but if a champion can defeat her 
accusers she is to be set at hberty 
and her honour cleared. The Earl 
of Thoulouse privately undertakes 
her quarrel. He appears at the 
emperor's court in the guise of 
a monk, and receives permission 
to act as her confessor. He pub- 
lishes the fact of her innocence, 
but the knights accuse him of being 
bribed to make the announcement. 
On this he challenges them to 
combat, overthrows them, and the 
empress is declared innocent. The 
earl then openly avows himself in 
his true character, and a solemn 
reconcihation ensues. The em- 
peror appoints him his seneschal, 
and only Uves three years after 
this event, when the earl is re- 
warded for his faithful love with 
the hand of the empress. 

ERMENRICH. [Vide "Dietrich of 
Bern.") Brother to Dietmar(g'.v.), 
and husband of Swanhild {q.v.). 
His attitude toward the court of 
Dietrich was for a time friendly ; 
but his weak nature led him to 
place too great a trust in his 



ERM 

advisors, who subsequently drove 
him to commit errors which could 
never be effaced. Listening to 
the treason of his marshal Sibich 
{q.v.), he was constrained to slay 
his three sons, Friedrich, Eegin- 
bald and Randwer. This did not 
complete his crimes ; but told by 
Sibich that his wife desired his 
death, he trampled her under the 
hoofs of his horse. This act was 
followed by war. His noble friend 
of Bern became the target of 
his vengeance ; and though he 
damaged the prestige of his op- 
ponent, he afterwards regretted 
having been led into strife by his 
advisors ; but was never able to 
reaHze their purpose. 

ERMYM. (Vide "Bevis of Hamp- 
ton.") A Saracen king, who be- 
friended Bevis. When he found 
that Bevis wished his daughter to 
become a Christian, he quarreiUed 
with him. They were afterwards 
reconciled. Ermyn became a 
Christian, and gave his crown to 
Bevis' son, Guy. 

ERNEBOROUGH. {Vide "Bevis of 
Hampton.") Wife of Saber. She 
interpreted his dreams, and once 
went abroad to ask Sir Bevis to 
come back to England to help 
Saber. 

ERNIS. {Vide " Guy of Warwick.") 
Emperor of Greece. He was be- 
sieged by the Soudan, but was 
relieved by Sir Guy. 

ERNOUS, COUNT. AnoblemanaUuded 
to in the Queste del Saint Oraal 
{q.v.) as the Castle Carchelois in the 
March of Scotland. He was slain 
by his three sons, who were in 
turn despatched by Galahad. 
When dying he urged Galahad to 
go to the assistance of the Maimed 
King and to undertake other 
adventures. 



99 



ESP 



ERTHAI. {Vide " Gododin.") A 
Cymric chief slain in the battle at 
Cattreath. " In the van was, loud 
as thunder, the din of targets. . . . 
When the tale shall be told of the 
battle of Cattraeth, the people will 
utter sighs, long has been their 
grief because of the warrior's 
absence, there will be a dominion 
without a sovereign and a smoldng 
land." 

ESCORANT. A king alluded to in 
the romance of the Qiieste del Saint 
Graal{q.v.). On Perceval, Galahad, 
and Bors arriving in his kingdom 
he casts them into prison, thinking 
them to be sorcerers. They are 
miraculously fed by the Grail. At 
Escorant's death Galahad is made 
king of his realm. 

ESCOS. A monarch alluded to in 
the romance of the Grand Saint 
Graal {q.v.) as having given his 
name to Scotland. The Grail com- 
pany pass through his kingdom. 

ESPINOGRE. A notable alluded to 
in Manessier's portion of the Conte 
del Graal {q.v.) as besieging Goon 
Desert {q.v.) in Quiquagrant. Goon 
Desert made a sally and slew him. 
Espinogre's nephew swore revenge. 
Donning the armour of one of 
Goon Desert's knights, he slew him. 

ESPLANDIAN. A romance current 
throughout Spain during the middle 
ages. It tells how Amadis of 
Gaul {q.v.) and his wife Oriana of 
the Firm Island had in their keep- 
ing the wicked enchanter Arche- 
lous. One day the prisoner's wife 
entreated Amadis to set her hus- 
band free. This he did ; but not 
without great misgivings. Soon 
after the news of his friend Bang 
Lisuarte's captivity reached the 
island, and in deep despair Amadis 
regretted having set Archelous 
free, as he attributed the mis- 
fortune to the enchanter. Hardly 



ESP 



100 



EST 



had the dismayed Amadis time to 
consider the situation when a huge 
mountain of fire approached the 
island. As it came nearer it 
appeared to break, and to the 
astonishment of all a monstrous 
eagle arose from the flames and 
floated towards them. As its huge 
wings touched the shore the en- 
chantress Urganda appeared. She 
explained that their son Esplan- 
dian must undertake a mission of 
revenge, and ere questions could 
be put to her she had mysteriously 
carried the youth off. Wafted 
across the smooth ocean on a 
beautiful ship, Esplandian was 
thrilled with joy at his new life. 
At last he touched an island and 
going ashore he saw it to be 
barren. A vast tower crowned 
its topmost height. He found the 
massive structure deserted, and, on 
looking around, he caught sight of a 
sword firmly embedded in a stone. 
As he attempted to grasp it, the 
air was rent by the hideous howl 
of a dragon which quickly coiled 
its body around him. A grim 
struggle ensued, neither man nor 
beast giving way. The earth 
shook, and the castle rocked under 
the weight of their bodies. But 
Esplandian with one hand free was 
at last able to reach the magic 
sword the enchantress Urganda 
had given him. It started out at 
his touch, and soon with its aid 
he laid the dragon dead. Esplan- 
dian quitted the tower and pro- 
ceeded to the shore, the light of 
the blade guiding his footsteps as 
he went. On reaching the beach 
a boat awaited him, he stepped on 
board and the frail craft brought 
him to a rugged country. As he 
wandered toward a castle which 
he had perceived at a distance he 
met with a hermit who advised 
him to avoid it. The old man 
further told him that a great 



prince was a captive therein. The 
youth believed this monarch to be 
King Lisuarte, and the castle the 
wicked Archelous's stronghold. He 
proceeded on his way heedless of 
the kindly hermit's advice, and on 
arrival at the castle encountered 
a giant sentinel. This monster he 
speedily vanquished, and was 
about to enter the stronghold when 
Archelous confronted him. En- 
raged at the stripling's audacity, 
the evil enchanter ran towards 
him and a desperate struggle 
ensued. At last the young knight 
obtained an advantage, and with 
a thrust of his sword he slew the 
enchanter. Next came Archelous's 
nephew to avenge his uncle's, 
death ; but he too was slain. 
Arcobone, the mother of the slain 
enchanter, attempted to use her 
evil powers on the knight, but his 
magic sword preserved him, and 
at his command she led him to 
where the prisoner was lodged. 
He came upon his kinsman and 
released him. As they reached 
the shore the fleet of Matroed, 
eldest son of Arcobone, had 
anchored. Matroed advanced and 
engaged Esplandian in combat, 
both warriors being well matched. 
As the sun began to wane, the 
pagan, sorely wounded, appealed 
to the knight to allow him to die 
in peace. A holy man arrived, 
and as Matroed expired he im- 
plored his blessing. The strong- 
hold of Archelous was razed to 
the ground, the land freed from 
pagan custom and the fleet of 
Matroed destroyed. 

ESTMERE, KING. A Scottish 
romance. The date of this 
epic, which enjoyed a national 
reputation, appears to be obscure. 
We possess one fortunate clue — 
if a clue it be — in the general 
assumption that a portion at 



EST 



least of the romance was composed 
during the sovereignty of the 
Saracens, or Moors, over a part 
of Spanish territory. Taking the 
latest date for a basis, we can safely 
assume that the Moorish race lost 
its prestige over its Spanish pos- 
sessions about the year 1491. 
Some critics seem to have at one 
time confused this romance with 
the Tale of the King of Estmore- 
land's Marriage to the Daughter of 
the King of Westmoreland, men- 
tioned in the Complaynt of Scot- 
land, 1549. But latterly such a 
view seems to have been weakened 
by the belief that the tale belongs 
to the ancient romance of Kyng 
Horn (q.v.). The legend has not 
come down to us in its original 
condition. This short epic is 
admired for its simpHcity of style 
and action. The tale commences 
at the home of the light-hearted 
adventurer, King Estmere. Over 
a social horn of ale, he is advised 
to marry by his bosom friend 
Adler. The good-natured host re- 
phes to the effect that he would 
find it difficult to marry happily, 
since he is not easily satisfied. 
His friend, however, determines 
to pursue the matter. He re- 
members having heard of a King 
Adland and his beautiful daughter, 
and suggests that his host might 
visit the king, and succeed, if 
possible, in winning His Majesty's 
daughter. This suggestion meets 
with Estmere's approval, and they 
subsequently depart on the matri- 
monial mission. Arriving before 
Adland's palace, they are ques- 
tioned on their religious tendencies. 
Admitting, however, that they are 
Christians, Estmere and his em- 
bassy are ushered into the pre- 
sence of King Adland, who 
heartily makes them at ease. 
Disclosing the purpose of his visit, 
Estmere prevails upon his royal 



lOl EST 

host to bring forth his daughter. 
Adland warns the visitors that 
another suitor — the Spanish king, 
had recently Journeyed to his 
court for the same purpose, and 
being refused because he was not 
a Christian, threatened vengeance. 
The daughter appears, and in- 
stantly falls in love with Estmere, 
who is, however, restrained by her 
father from taking her away. 
They nevertheless swear to be true 
to each other. King Estmere and 
his companion commence their 
return journey. They have not 
proceeded far, when a messenger 
from Adland's court overtakes 
them, advising Estmere to return 
and defend his kingly friend against 
an inroad of the Spanish king. 
He doubts the advisabihty of 
acting upon the request. But 
prompted by his ally, they dis- 
guised themselves as Moors, and 
decide to return and defend the 
good king and his daughter. They 
arrive in the guise of Moorish 
harpers, to find the enemy in 
charge of the castle, and the leader 
paying court to the disheartened 
king's daughter. Estmere, playing 
on his harp, succeeds in enticing 
the beautiful girl from the pre- 
sence of the Spanish king, who in 
his rage scoffs at the disguised 
harper for his conceit and offers 
to try the instrument. The ruse 
is successful in luring the Spanish 
suitor to come towards Estmere, 
who, seeing his opportunity, slays 
him. The loyal followers of the 
dead chief immediately assail the 
two harpers. A desperate struggle 
ensues, and by means of the magic 
power they possess Estmere and 
his companion win the day. King 
Adland, seeing the defeat of the Sa- 
racen king and his army, does not 
hesitate to hand his daughter over 
to Estmere, who marries her. They 
return to England soon afterwards. 



EST 



102 



ETH 



ESTMERE, KING. The principal 
character in the romance of that 
name (q.v.). He is possessed of a 
simple and pleasing manner, taking 
Hfe lightly. He seriously decides, 
through the advice of his friend 
Adler, to marry. His method of 
accompUshing his object is very 
wittily expressed in the romance. 
After succeeding in marrjdng the 
daughter of King Adland (q.v.) — 
but not before he had slain his 
opponent, the Spanish king — 
he returned to his home, to resume 
his peaceful manner of living. 

ESTRAGOTT. {Vide "Sir Ferum- 
bras.") A huge Ethiopian in 
Laban's service. He kUled Sabaryz 
at Rome. 

ESTROIS DE GARILES. Alluded to 
in the Queste del Saint Oraal {q.v.) 
as one of the three messengers 
who bore tidings from Galahad, 
Perceval, and Bors to the court of 
King Arthur. 

ESTUYT OF LEGIERS. (Vide "Sir 
Otuel.") A knight of Charle- 
magne's, who seized a firebrand 
and threw it at Otuel in anger at 
his insulting words when he gave 
his message at the court of 
Charlemagne. 

ETAIN. Second wife of Midir the 
Proud. Her beauty evoking the 
jealousy of his first wife, Fuamnach, 
she was by her turned into a 
butterfly and blown from the 
palace by a magic tempest. Tossed 
hither and thither through Ireland, 
after seven years she was blown 
through a window of the fairy 
palace of Angus, on the Boyne. 
He could not release her from the 
magic of Fuamnach, but during 
the day she fed in a beautiful 
bower upon honey -laden flowers, 
and at night in her natural form 
gave Angus her love. Fuamnach, 
however, learned of her hiding- 
place, and the tempest she now 



sent blew Etain into the drinlring- 
cup of Etar, the wife of an Ulster 
chieftain. The butterfly was 
swallowed, and Etain was bom 
daughter of Etar, and as such she 
wedded Eochy, High King of 
Ireland. For her remaining his- 
tory, see " Midir." 

ETAIN OIG. In Irish romance, 
daughter of Etain (q.v.) and wife 
of Cormac, King of Ulster, in the 
article concerning whom her story 
is related. 

ETAR. The mortal mother of Etain 
(q.v.). 

ETERSKEL. In Irish romance, King 
of Tara, whose cowherd protected 
and brought up Messbuachalla, 
whom the king discovered and 
married. 

ETHAL ANUBAL. Father of Caer 
(q.v.). 

ETHLINN. Daughter of Balor, King 
of the Pomorians (q.v.), in Irish 
romance. As her father had been 
informed by a druid that he would 
be slain by his grandson, and as 
EthUnn was his only child, he 
imprisoned her in a lofty tower in 
Tory Island, in the charge of 
twelve matrons, who were for- 
bidden to teU her that such beings 
as men existed. Balor stole a 
magic cow belonging to Kian (q.v.), 
who determined to be revenged 
upon him, and, disguising himself 
in woman's garb, gained access to 
Ethlinn. From their intercourse 
sprang three infants, whom Balor 
ordered to be drowTied. But one 
fell from the napkin in which the 
trio were carried to their death, 
and was taken by the Druidess 
Birog to its father Kian, and 
became the great Lugh (q.v.). 

ETHNE. The daughter of EUe, 
steward of Angus, in Irish romance. 
She was a beautiful handmaid of 



ETL 



103 



the daughter of Mananan the sea- 
god, who had sent his child to be 
brought up in the Brugh na Boyna. 
But while the other Danaans lived 
on Mananan's magic swine, she 
took no nourishment. It was then 
discovered that her moral nature 
had been awakened in her by the 
brutal desire of a chieftain of the 
Danaans to possess her by force, 
and she therefore took no faery 
food. Mananan and Angus, how- 
ever, brought back from the East 
two magic cows with a never- 
failing supply of milk. Upon this 
she fed, as the animals had come 
from a sacred land. One day she 
went down with her mistress and 
the other maidens to bathe in the 
Boyne, but after arraying herself 
she discovered that she had lost 
her Veil of InvisibiUty, and there- 
fore her home and companions. 
Wandering up and down, she came 
to a church, and told her story 
to a monk, who brought her to 
St. Patrick. By him she was 
baptized. But as she was praying 
in the church one day she heard 
voices afar off calling her name. 
Attempting to reply, in her emo- 
tion she fell into a swoon, and 
regained her senses only to pine 
away with grief at the loss of her 
Danaan kindred to whom the 
strange voices belonged. She died 
upon the breast of St. Patrick, 
and, through the last rites ad- 
ministered to her by the saint, 
was received into heaven. The 
church was henceforth named Kill 
Ethne. The word " kill " usually 
means in Irish place-names the 
Latin cella, a monastic cell, shrine, 
or church. In this pathetic legend 
we can see the yearning of the 
early Irish Celtic Christians after 
the old pagan religion with its 
radiant and mystic environment, 
its beautiful women of the Dana, 
and their careless immortality. 



EVA 

Like Persephone, Ethn6 must con- 
sume no faery food, no nurture of 
Hades, or she is lost. Persephone 
ate and became the wife of Pluto, 
and the young com, like the 
Xilonen of the Mexicans. But 
Ethne does not eat in the Chris- 
tianized legend, which is tanta- 
mount to saying that she did in 
the pagan version. 

ETLYM GLEDDYV COCH. A youth 
who offered his services to Peredur 
as a guide, alluded to in the 
Mabinogi story of Peredur the Son 
of Evrawc. Peredur arrives at the 
court of the Countess of Achieve- 
ments, and overthrows her three 
hundred knights, but learning 
that she loves Etlym, he resigns 
her to him. Accompanied by 
Etlym, Peredur comes to the 
Mound of Mourning, slays two out 
of the three hundred knights whom 
he finds guarding the serpent 
there, kills the reptile, and gives 
Etlym the magic stone which he 
finds at the spot, sending him 
back to his lady-love. 

ETZEL. (Vide " Attila.") 

EUDES. Uncle of Huon of Bordeaux 
(q.v.). He renounced Christianity 
for Mohammedanism, to the 
chagrin of his nephew. 

EVALACH THE UNKNOWN, In 

Grail romance, a Saracen lord. 
Expresses his disbeUef to Joseph 
in the mystery of the Immaculate 
Conception and the Trinity. 
Evalach has a vision in which 
appear three equal tree-trunks, 
wMch, though three, are yet truly 
one, and also of a room with a 
secret door of marble, through 
which a child passes without 
opening it. A voice tells him 
this is a type of the miraculous 
conception of Christ. He is ulti- 
mately converted. 



EVR 



104 



EVRAWC. Father of Peredur, al- 
luded to in the tale of Peredur the 
Son of Evrawc (q.v.), in the Welsh 
Mahinogion. He was slain in com- 
bat along with six of his sons, 
leaving Peredur and his mother 
without protection. 

EVRIC. A Milesian farmer dweUing 
on the shores of Erris Bay, who 
befriended the swan-children of 
the Irish sea-god Lir {q-v.). 
Their story is supposed to have 
been handed down by him. 

EXCALIBUR. Otherwise caUed 

Mirandoise, or in Welsh legend 
Caledvwlch, and in some instances 
CaUbum, the sword of King Arthur. 
The weapon is a magical one Uke 
the Gram of Odin thrust into the 
roof-tree of the Volsungs, or the 
Durandal of Roland, and the Eady 
of the Lake, who is its guardian, 
is on a par with Thetis the mother 
of AchiUes who presents her son 
with armour which renders him 
invulnerable. The scabbard of 
this sword is even more wonderful 
than the weapon it holds. Merlin 
tells Arthur that it is worth ten 
of the blade, for so long as he 
carries the sheath he wiU not lose 



FAM 

blood, however sore he may be 
wounded. Morgan le Fay, Ar- 
thur's sister, purloined the scab- 
bard and presented it to Sir 
Accolon, palming off a forged 
scabbard on her brother. We 
find a like weapon in the possession 
of Sir Galahad. The sword was 
Arthur's faithful companion in 
many an adventure, and at the 
point of death he delivered it to 
Bedivere, with orders to cast it 
into a certain lake. Hesitating to 
lose so fine a weapon, Bedivere 
prevaricated thrice with the king 
as to having cast it into the lake, 
but Arthur was not to be deceived, 
and prayed him to do as he had 
been requested. At last he cast 
the weapon into the mere, and 
espied a hand and arm arise from 
the waters, seize it and disappear, 
after brandishing it three times. 
Spenser calls ExcaUbur Morddure, 
probably " the biter." (Faerie 
Queene, II. viii. 21.) 

EYLIMI, KING. (Fif^e "Volsungs.") 
Father of Hjordis (g.v.) who wedded 
Sigmund (q.v.). He was subse- 
quently slain by King Ljnigi (q.v.) 
while defending Sigmund (q.v.). 



FACHTNA. In Irish romance, the 
giant King of Ulster, husband of 
Nessa and father of Conor (q.v.). 

FAFNIR. (Vide "Volsungs.") Son 
of Hreidmar, and brother to Otter 
(q.v.) and Regin (q.v.). In his 
lust for treasure he slew his father 
to obtain Otter's skin, which con- 
tained a treasure of gold rings. 
He eventually developed into a 
dragon and was slain by Sigurd. 

FAIR MANE. The foster-mother of 
Geena mac Luga (q.v.) and of 
many of the Fianna. 



FALCON. A horse possessed by 
Dietrich of Bern (q.v.). 

FALIAS. One of the four cities 
whence the Danaans (q.v.) of 
Irish romance sprang. From this 
city came the Lia Fail, or Stone of 
Destiny, which roared beneath a 
rightful king, and which is now 
part of the British throne in 
Westminster Abbey. 

FAMONGOMADAN. A giant leagued 
with Cildadan against King 
Lisuarte, whose daughter Oriana 
he demanded. Beltenebros even- 



FAN 105 

tually slays him and his giant son 
Basagante. 

FAND. The Pearl of Beauty, wife 
of Mananan the Irish Celtic 
sea-god, who sought the love of 
Cuchulain {q.v.). She quarrelled 
with her hushand, and in conse- 
quence her kingdom was hesieged 
by three demons who threatened 
it with destruction. She offered 
her love to Cuchulain in return for 
his help against the invaders. 
Cuchulain defeated them, and 
dwelt for a month with Fand, after 
which he departed, having ap- 
pointed as trysting-place on earth 
the strand of the Yew Tree. 
Emer, Cuchulain's wife, heard of 
the tryst, however, and arrived at 
the place of assignation with fifty 
maidens armed with knives, with 
the intention of slaying Cuchulain. 
He perceived their approach from 
afar, and sung to Emir of the sur- 
passing excellences of his mistress. 
Fand offered to give him up, but 
Emer protested on her part that 
she should be the deserted one. 
Mananan the sea-god then ap- 
peared to his unfaithful spouse, 
and offered to take her back, and 
she departed with him. Mananan 
shook his cloak between Cuchulain 
and Fand, so that they might 
meet nevermore — a beautiful 
simile of the power for estrange- 
ment and division possessed by the 
sea. Cuchulain, on the departure 
of Fand, sorrowed long, refusing 
meat and drink, till the druids 
bestowed upon him a draught of 
forgetfulness. 

FAUST or FAUSTUS. A sixteenth- 
century legend mentioned by Saxo- 
Grammaticus, is first alluded to by 
Trithemius, who, in writing to 
Johann Winding, describes Faust 
as "a fool rather than a philo- 
sopher," who fled rather than con- 
front him. Faust boasted that 



FAD 

were all the works of Plato and 
Aristotle effaced he could restore 
them with greater elegance. He 
declared that Christ's miracles 
were nothing to wonder at, as he 
could perform deeds equally as 
marvellous. The magician took 
about with him a dog which was 
supposed to be possessed of a devil. 
Melancthon describes Faust as 
" a disgraceful beast and sower of 
many devils," who studied magic 
at Cracow. Weiher mentions that 
Faust was found dead with his 
neck wrung, after the house in 
which he resided had been shaken 
to its foundations by a terrific din. 

Faust personified the old spirit 
of mediaeval magic as Luther 
personified the Protestant reUgion. 
The person around whom the 
magus-legend clustered was one 
Johann Faust, who from 1516 to 
1525 resided with his friend the 
Abbot of Maulbronn, where the 
Faust-kitchen and Faust-tower 
still exist. He was forced to flee 
from Wittenberg because of his 
magical practices, and after many 
wanderings, ended his life in a 
village of Wiirtemberg. He has 
nothing in common with John 
Fust, the printer of Mainz, with 
whom, without any historical Justi- 
fication, he became latterly identi- 
fied. 

The oldest Faust-book appeared 
in Frankfort in 1587. In 1590 it 
was translated into EngUsh, and 
almost immediately afterwards 
appeared the Ttagicall History 
of Doctor Faiistus, by Christopher 
Marlowe, who simply dramatized 
the popular legend after the manner 
of his time, throwing into its dark 
shadows, however, the brilliant 
Ught of a rich poetry and deep 
religious fervour. Transformed by 
the genius of Goethe, the legend 
took the shape of a great world- 
drama, in which the deepest 



FAY 



io6 



FER 



philosophy is combined with the 
most unerring worldly wisdom, 
and the tragic notes of human woe 
and passion are blent with a rich 
mysticism and romantic fervour. 
In Goethe's Faust the old and 
the modem world meet, and the 
whole tragedy of man is set forth 
with unrivalled power, pathos and 
skill. 

FAYLINN. In Irish romance, the 
home of a diminutive race called 
"the Wee Folk," who appear to 
have been of the Elfin tribe. Its 
King was lubdan {q.v.). {Vide 
"Eisirt.") 

FEDELMA. A prophetess in Irish 
romance, who dwelt in the fairy 
moim.d of Croghan. She prophesied 
to Queen Maev the defeat of her 
foray into Ulster. 

FEIREFIZ. Alluded to m the 
Parzival of Wolfram von Eschen- 
bach as the son of Gahmuret by a 
heathen Eastern queen, Belakane, 
and thus half-brother to Percival 
or Parzival. 

FELICE. (Vide " Guy of Warwick.") 
Daughter of Rohand. In the words 
of the poem she was very "fair, 
courteous, wise and learned." She 
behaved in rather a haughty and 
capricious way to Sir Guy, and 
had been married only a short 
time when her husband left her 
and went on a jiilgrimage to the 
Holy Land. Her only child, 
Raynbum, was stolen. She dedi- 
cated her life after that to good 
works, and did not see her husband 
again (although he once came to 
the castle and received hospitaUty 
unrecognized) until he was dying, 
when he sent for her. She only 
survived him fifteen days. 

FELIM. In Irish romance, son of 
Dall, and father of Deirdre {q.v.), 
a lord of Ulster. Whilst the king 
and his nobles were visiting him. 



he was informed that his wife 
had borne him a daughter. Cath- 
bad the druid prophesied to the 
assembly that the child should 
grow into a wondrous fair woman, 
and that she should wed a king, 
but that because of her ruin and 
desolation should come upon 
Ulster. The nobles then resolved 
to put her to death, but Conor the 
king forbade them, and said he 
woiJd himseK espouse her when 
she came of fitting age. This 
child was Deirdre. 

FELIX (1). Prince. {Vide " Floriceand 
Blanchfleur.") Ruler over Murcia, 
husband to the Queen of Murcia, 
and father of Florice. He was 
noted for his cruelty and unscru- 
pulous behaviour. During his 
conflict with the Mngs of Portugal 
and Gahcia he slew the innocent 
Perse, on pilgrimage with Topase 
to the Holy Land. He appointed 
Mohady, a zealous priest, as tutor 
to his son Florice. At Mohady's 
instigation Fehx sent Blanchfleur 
to the slave market of Alexandria. 

FELIX (2). Alluded to in the romance 
of the Orand Saint Graal {q.v.) 
as Governor of Syria. He took 
Evelach {q.v.) with him, and held 
him in high honour, until one day 
Evelach became angry with Fehx's 
son, slew him and was forced to 

fly- 

FELIXMARTB OF HYRCANIA. A 

slayer of giants. 

FERCARTNA. Bard of Curoi, King 
of Munster. He leapt over a 
precipice with Blanid {q.v.) Curoi's 
wife, who had treacherously 
brought about the death of her hus- 
band through her lover CuchulaLn 
{q.v.). 

FERDIA. In Irish romance, son of 
Daman the Firbolg, and friend to 
Cuchulain. He joined Queen 
Maev in her foray against Ulster. 



FER 



107 



FER 



In the battle which ensued, Maev 
suggested that he should engage 
Cuchulain, who had vanquished 
all the other heroes of might. At 
first he would not, but she taunted 
him so sorely that at length he 
consented. The combat between 
them lasted four days, and on the 
fourth day. Cuchulain, after a 
strenuous combat, slew him with 
the Gae Bolg, or belly-spear. 

FERDINAND GONSALEZ, COUNT, 
THE ESCAPE OF. This romance, 
related in a Spanish historical 
ballad of the tenth century, is 
considered by many modern 
critics to have been of an entirely 
fabulous origin so informed is it 
with the spirit of romance and 
adventure. Ferdinand's wife 

Sancha, daughter of Garcias, King 
of Navarre, was a woman of great 
courage and resource, and through 
her clever strategy she was enabled 
to effect her husband's escape from 
prison on two occasions. The 
ballad describes the capture of the 
Count of Castille who was bound 
" hand and heel " and thrown into 
a dungeon by order of King 
Garcias. A Christian knight of 
Normandy, fighting against the 
Moors, was riding through Navarre, 
and hearing of the capture of 
Gonsalez he bribed the jailer of the 
prison to let him see the count. 
He succeeded in having an inter- 
view with him, and afterwards 
attended a feast given by the king 
on account of having made a 
prisoner of "the doughtiest lord 
■ in Spain." There he met Garcias' 
daughter, and teUing her that 
Gonsalez had loved her for long, 
he urged her to liberate him. 
During the night when all her 
maids were asleep the Infanta rose, 
and going to the jailer she bribed 
him with gold and jewels to set 
his prisoner free. She showed 



Gonsalez the way to liberty, and 
offered to accompany him on his 
journey, as she feared her father's 
anger. Gonsalez kissed her and 
they both proceeded to the forest, 
where they met a priest, who tried 
to stop them, as he knew them 
both, and threatened to report 
their flight if they did not pay him 
a ransom. The Infanta beckoned 
to the priest to enter the wood, 
where she held him fast, while 
Gonsalez picked up the priest's 
javelin which lay on the grass and 
pressed it through his body to the 
ground, spearing him Mke a boar. 
They left him to die and continued 
their way on the priest's horse 
until they met a troop of men who 
turned out to be Gonsalez' own 
soldiers. The ballad ends with 
their arrival in Castille, accom- 
panied by the horsemen with their 
shining pennons and bright swords. 
(Vide Chronica Antigua de Espana ; 
Lockhart, Spanish Ballads, 1823.) 

FERGUS (1). In Irish romance, a 
Nemedian chief who slew the 
Pomorian Conann. 

FERGUS (2), SIR, A knight of King 
Mark, and a friend of Sir Tristram 
(q.v.). (Vide " Morte d'Arthur.") 

FERGUS MAC LEDA. In Irish ro- 
mance a sub-King of Ulster, who 
delighted in exploring the depths 
of the lakes and rivers of Ireland. 
At the bottom of Eoch Rury he 
encountered the Muirdris, or river- 
horse, the terror of meeting which 
so strongly affected him that his 
face was twisted awry. No 
monarch with a blemish might 
rule in Ireland, and, to save his 
feeUngs, those about him per- 
mitted no mirrors to enter his 
palace, so that he was unaware of 
his true condition. On one occa- 
sion he struck a handmaiden, who 
retorted that he would be better 
employed in striking the monster 



FER 



io8 



FER 



who had brought about his defor- 
mity. On hearing this Fergus 
called for a mirror, and, perceiving 
the blemish, took his sword, dived 
into Loch Rury, and rose again 
with the Muirdris's head in his 
hand. Throwing the bloody 
trophy on the bank, he indicated 
to the spectators that the blemish 
had departed, and with a lofty 
smile upon his face, sank into the 
depths and disappeared. 

FERGUS MAC ROY. In Irish ro- 
mance, half-brother of Fachtna 
iq.v.), King of Ulster, whom he 
succeeded. He took to wife his 
brother's spouse, Nessa, who wed 
him on condition that he per- 
mitted Conor, her son, to reign 
for one year. At the end of that 
period the people demanded that 
he should retain the throne, to 
which Fergus consented. He was 
sent by Conor to invite Naisi and 
Deirdre (q.v.) to return, and whilst 
guiding them home, was asked by 
Baruch, Lord of the Red Branch 
(q.v.), to a feast, with consequences 
disastrous to Naisi and Deirdre. 

FERUM6RAS. This romance is a 
translation from the French, dating 
from the beginning of the fifteenth 
century. Its theme is that of 
strife between the Saracens and 
the Christians. Laban, King of 
Babylon, persecuted the Jews and 
drove them out of the Holy Land. 
Having learned that treasure of 
great value, intended as a present 
to himself, had been taken from a 
ship by the Romans, he vowed he 
would destroy Rome in revenge. 
He set out with a large army, 
accompanied by his son Ferum- 
bras. King of Alexandria, and 
Floripas his daughter. They 
besieged Rome, which was de- 
fended bravely by Sabaryz, until 
by strategy an entrance was made 
and Sabaryz was killed. The 



Romans repulsed many assaults. 
but Ferumbras showed conspic- 
uous abUity and would probably 
have conquered without the help 
the Saracens gained by the 
treachery of Ispres, who com- 
manded the principal gate. The 
news of the distress in Rome 
reached Charlemagne, who sent 
Sir Guy of Burgundy to its aid, 
but he could do nothing without 
assistance. Enraged at Laban, 
Charlemagne went to the neigh- 
bourhood of Aigremor, where 
Laban had encamped, and began 
to ravage the country. A battle 
followed in which the Saracens 
suffered severely. Ferumbras then 
offered to fight any of the Chris- 
tians in single combat, and Ohvier 
accepted the challenge. After a 
severe struggle Ohvier won, and 
Ferumbras acknowledged himself 
vanquished, and embraced Christi- 
anity, being afterwards baptized 
by Turpin. Meanwhile, Roland 
and Ohvier had been taken prisoners 
and carried to Laban, who would 
have slain them, but Floripas 
advised him to keep them as 
hostages for Ferumbras, and they 
Were thrown into a dungeon. By 
the help of Floripas, they were 
drawn up out of this and concealed 
in her apartments. Twelve dele- 
gates from both contending parties 
met to arrange an exchange of 
prisoners. Sir Guy proposed a 
trial of strength, and all the 
Saracens were lalled. The French 
knights carried back their heads 
to Laban at Aigremor, who would 
have killed them, had not Floripas 
requested she might take charge 
of them till the best form of 
punishment had been decided. 
She then took them to Join the 
others in her apartments. Flori- 
pas told them she wished to marry 
Sir Guy, and become a Christian, 
to which request Sir Guy agreed. 



FIA 



and they were betrothed. She 
then gave the knights armour and 
arranged how they could attack 
Laban and take the castle. Laban 
escaped, and attempted an assault, 
but was driven back. He then 
cut off all supply of provisions, 
and blockaded the castle. Flori- 
pas, however, had a magical girdle 
which prevented the wearer feehng 
hunger. This was lost, and their 
position became desperate. Richard 
of Normandy salUed out to find 
Charlemagne and get help, which 
he did eventually, and after some 
adventures, and nearly losing his 
life, which was saved by Ferum- 
bras, Oiarlemagne arrived at 
Aigremor, and a battle took place 
which resulted in the total defeat 
of the Saracens. Laban was un- 
horsed, and refusing to be baptized, 
was executed. Floripas married 
Sir Guy, and haK of Spain was 
given to them as a dowry, and the 
remainder to Ferumbras, and 
Charlemagne returned to France. 

FIACHA. In Irish romance, son of 
Firaha. He joined the host of 
Maev in the foray against Ulster. 
When the men of Erin sent the 
Clan Calatin {i.e. the children of 
Calatin, the offspring of a wizard 
who with his twenty-seven sons 
formed one being) against Cuchu- 
lain, the Clan Calatin succeeded 
in overthrowing him, and ground 
his face in the gravel, but Fiacha 
with one stroke cut off their 
twenty-eight hands, after which 
Cuchulain hacked them into frag- 
ments. He gave to Fiim a magic 
spear, which, when its naked blade 
was laid against a man's brow, 
fiUed him with a courage which 
rendered him invincible. 

FIAL (Feeal). In Irish romance, 
sister of Emer {q.v.). 

FIANNA. An Irish military order fre- 
quently alluded to in Irish romance 



109 FIN 

which flourished in the reign of 
Conor mac Ort in the third 
century a.d. It was divided 
mainly into the Clans Bascna and 
Moma (q.v.), which were con- 
tinually fighting with each other 
for supremacy. Under the cap- 
taincy of Cuchulain, the Fianna had 
to perform several feats of strength, 
courage, coolness, and agility 
before they were received into the 
order ; and the candidate had to 
be versed in the Twelve Books of 
Poesy, and to be himself a bard. 
This order was practically exter- 
minated in the Battle of Gowra 
(q.v.), fought as the result of the 
refusal of King Cairbolg (q.v.) to 
pay to the Fianna tribute for the 
marriage of his daughter Sgeimh 
Solias (Light of Beauty) (q.v.). 

FINCHOOM. In Irish romance, 
Dectera's sister, foster-mother to 
Cuchulain (q.v.), mother of Conall. 

FIND AB AIR (of the Fair Eyebrows). 
In Irish romance, a daughter of 
Maev (q.v.), offered as wife to 
Ferdia (q.v.) if he would fight 
Cuchulain (q.v.). 

FINEGAS. Sage and druid, from 
whom Finn (q.v.), the Irish Ossianic 
hero, learnt science and poetry. 

FINIAS. One of the four great 
cities whence the Irish mythical 
Danaans (q.v.) are said to have 
sprung. From this city these 
deities brought a magic spear. 

FINN MAC CUMHAL. In Irish ro- 
mance, Captain of the Fianna 
(q.v.) and the centre of the 
Ossianic tales. His father, Cum- 
hal, chief of the Clan Bascna 
(q.v.) had been slain at Castle- 
Knock, by the rival clan Morna, 
and his mother, and Murna of the 
White Neck, granddaughter of the 
Danaan King, Nuada of the Silver 
Hand (q.v.), succeeded in saving 
him from the Moman sword. She 



FIN 



no 



FIR 



gave him to two old women to be 
brought up in the wild wood. 
Demna was his name, but from 
the fairness of his skin he was 
known as Finn (the Fair One). 
His first success for his outcast 
clan was to slay Lia (q.v.), the 
Fiannan Treasurer, and to hand 
over the Treasure Bag to the 
Clan Bascna. Then he prepared 
himself for the position of his 
father's son by learning science 
and poetry from Finegas, who 
dwelt on the Boyne. This druid 
had been unable, until Finn became 
his pupil, to catch the Salmon of 
Knowledge that lived in a pool of 
the river. When he did succeed 
in catching it, he told Finn to 
watch while it cooled, but not to 
eat it. He had, however, burnt 
his fingers, as he turned the spit, 
and put one of them to his mouth, 
hke Gwion Bach and Siegfried 
(q.v.). Seeing this, Finegas bade 
him eat the salmon, and Finn was 
filled with the wisdom of the' ages. 
GoU mac Morna was captain of 
the Fianna, when Finn, a stranger, 
sat down among the king's 
warriors and the Fianna in the 
Great Assembly at Tara. To the 
king he told his name and hneage, 
and took service with him. Shortly 
after this Cormac promised him 
the leadership of the Fianna if he 
slew the fire-blowing demon that 
came yearly to set Tara in flames. 
Finn, therefore, possessed himself 
of the magic sword of Fiacha 
{q.v.), and as the dream-lapping 
music of the demon's harp began 
to bewitch him he placed the blade 
against his forehead, when the 
battle fury came upon him. The 
gobhn, perceiving that Finn was 
uncharmed by his music, fled to 
Sheve Fuad, whither Finn followed. 
The demon was slain and his head 
borne back to Tara. Then the 
king gave orders to aU the Fianna 



to swear allegiance to Finn as 
their captain, a command which 
was obeyed first by GoU mac 
Morna and then by aU the rest. 
During the leadership of Finn the 
Fianna rose to a glorious eminence 
in the land by their mighty deeds, 
an eminence which later grew 
tyrannical, and from which they 
were hurled at the Battle of Gowra. 
But neither annahst nor poet gives 
a clear account of the death of 
Finn. Conformable to his Danaan 
ancestry, his passing is shadowed 
in a cloud ; while a popular tradi- 
tion has lulled him and his great 
companions to a dreamless sleep 
in an enchanted cave whence they 
shaU arise in the hour of their 
country's need, hke Arthur, Barba- 
rossa, and Charlemagne. 

FINTAN. In the Ossianic cycle of 
Irish legend, the Salmon of 
Knowledge, which Finegas {q.v.) 
bade Finn {q.v.) eat, who was 
then fiUed with the wisdom of the 
ages. 

FIONUALA. (F*t?e "Children of Lir.") 

FIRBOLGS. In Irish romance, one 
of the three Nemedian {q.v.) sur- 
viving families, after the Fomorian 
victory on Tory Island, who 
returned, according to later tradi- 
tion , to Ireland. Their name signi - 
fies " Men of the Bog," to account 
for which title there is a legend 
which states that, oppressed in 
Greece by their masters, they set 
sail for Ireland in coracles made 
out of the bags in which they 
were required to carry soil from 
the valleys to the hUls to make the 
latter arable. Nennius, on the 
other hand, states that they came 
from " Spain " or the liand of the 
Dead. They invaded Ireland in 
three groups, the Firbolg, the Fir- 
Danaan, and the GaUan. They 
personified dulness and stupidity, 



FIS 



III 



FLO 



and in the first Battle of Moytura 
readily gave ground before the 
light of intelligence, represented 
by the Danaans {q.v.). , 

FISHER KING. {Vide " Amfortas.") 

FLEGENTYNE. Mentioned in the 
Grand Saint Qraal as wife of 
Nasciens (q.v.). She set out in 
search of her husband, accom- 
panied by the old knight Corsapias 
and his son Helicoras. At the 
bidding of Christ she sets out with 
Mordrains, King Label's daughter, 
and their households for Britain, in 
order to be avenged upon King 
Crudel, who has thrown Josephes 
(q.v.) and many other Christians 
into prison. The captain of the 
ship on which they have embarked 
lusts after Flegentyne, and is 
carried off by a devil. On arriving 
in Britain so great is her joy that 
she nearly dies, swooning twelve 
times. She dies on the same day 
as her husband and Sarraquite 
(q.v.). 

FLORICE, SIR. Son of FeUx, King 
of Murcia (q.v.), one of the two 
leading characters in the romance 
of Florice and Blanchfleur (q.v.). 
Born at the same time as Blanch- 
fleur (q.v.), whom he loved, their 
intimacy caused his tutor Mohady 
(q.v.) to prevail upon his father 
for his banishment. He was sent 
to the court of the King of 
Montorio, where he completed his 
education. But he could not rest. 
Being possessed of a mystic ring 
given him by Blanchfleur, he was 
forced to enter into many adven- 
tures for her sake. The first 
outward proof of his love toward 
her was the rescue of his lady, 
who had through the treason of 
Mohady and Ajoub (q.v.) been 
sentenced to death. An illness 
followed, and through the skill of 
Averroes (q.v.) he was preserved 
from death. Again his ring 



clouded, which showed that his 
love was in danger, and through 
the advice of Salim (q.v.) he set 
off in pursuit of Blanchfleur, who 
had been shipped to Alexandria, 
to be sold as a slave. His journeys 
are very vividly depicted in the 
romance, and through the plotting 
of Dayre (q.v.) and the weakness 
of the porter to the Amiral of 
Babylon, he succeeded in securing 
his mistress. The amiral threat- 
ened to put him to death, but 
after much explanation befriended 
him, and, through the advice of the 
two lovers, became a Christian. 
They married and returned to 
Murcia, when Florice assumed the 
crown. The story is told by 
Boccaccio in his Filocopo. 

FLORICE AND BLANCHFLEUR. A 

romance, perhaps originally of 
Spanish origin. Probably many 
tales were written around the 
original conception, and we find 
what is evidently a later Spanish 
version, Flores y Blancaflor (1512), 
and French versions, Histoire Amo- 
reuse de Flore et tfe Blanchefleur, 
traduite de I'Espagnol (1554), 
Florimint et Passerose (c. 1565). 
The adventures of the lovers make 
the principal subject of Boccaccio's 
Filocopo, and he also employs the 
plot in the fifth novel of the 
tenth day of his Decameron. But 
he admits (1. 1, p. 6, ed. 1723) 
that the story existed long before. 
Flores and Blancaflor are men- 
tioned as illustrious lovers by 
Matfres Eymengau de Bezers, a 
poet of Languedoc, in his Breviari 
d'Amor, dated 1288. 

Perse, heir to the throne of a 
noble emperor, possessed of rich 
domains in Italy, being desirous 
to marry, his loyal subjects anxi- 
ously awaited his happy choice. 
Topase, the daughter of the Duke 
of Ferrara, and niece to the Duke 



FLO 



112 



of Milan, was the bride-elect. The 
two imperial houses, approving 
the union, hastened the marriage. 
The young couple met, and loved 
at first sight, so the nuptial bond 
was consecrated by the benediction 
of the Pope. As they were anxious 
for the birth of a child, a super- 
stitious Spaniard advised thenewly- 
wedded pair to implore Saint 
James to intercede on their 
behalf. Out of gratitude Prince 
Perse promised to perform a 
pilgrimage to the shrine of this 
saint, in Compostella. The follow- 
ing night Perse and Topase were 
alarmed by the vision of an angel, 
warning them of many calamities 
attending their journey. Ignoring 
the dream, they resumed their 
ill-fated visit to Galicia. Having 
traversed the battle-ground of the 
kings of Gahcia and Portugal, just 
before the weary pilgrims entered 
Gahcia, they rested awhile on the 
fringe of a forest. The Saracen 
Prince Felix swooped down upon 
the slumbering pair, slaying Perse, 
and taking Topase captive. Felix, 
surprised at her beauty, sent 
Topase to his queen. About the 
same age as Topase, Murcia readily 
sympathized with the young 
mourner in her grief, and a strong 
bond of friendship was soon formed. 
The two princesses were dehvered 
on the same day of a boy and a 
girl. Murcia named her infant 
son Florice, and Topase gave to 
her daughter the name of Blanch- 
fleur. Weakened by sickness, 
sorrow, and remorse, her life was 
ebbing fast away. When the two 
children were brought before 
Topase, the dying mother had just 
power enough left to baptize her 
daughter with her tears, then, 
uttering a faint scream, she ex- 
pired. 

The boy and girl grew up side 
by side, Murcia guiding their 



FLO 

young lives, and an attachment 
almost amounting to love deve- 
loped. Mohady, a Saracen 
priest, preceptor to the young 
prince, seeing that his pupU had 
imbibed the Christian faith of his 
foster-sister, conspired to separate 
the two comrades. The Mollah 
succeeded in convincing Felix of 
the expediency of removing 
Florice, at which the young prince 
was heart-broken. The father 
sent his son to Montorio to coni- 
plete his studies, so that his 
superior rank might be upheld 
with becoming dignity. Blanch- 
fleur gave her lover a ring con- 
taining a taUsman, which would 
foretell when danger threatened. 
One day Mohady caught Florice 
in the act of breathing a prayer to 
the God of the Christians for the 
safety of his lover. The Mollah 
informed Felix of the necessity 
for taking stringent measures, 
and prayed Ajoub of the great 
mosque to concoct a plot for 
destroying Blanchfleur. As the 
unfortunate girl was accustomed 
to feed the poultry, Ajoub artfully 
contrived to poison the food, then 
accused Blanchfleur of poisoning 
the fowl placed before him. The 
wicked Ajoub influenced the judges 
and was jubilant at the sentence 
of death which was passed upon 
the innocent Blanchfleur. Mean- 
while, at Montorio, the young 
prince displayed his prowess 
against two Moorish kings. But 
suddenly observing his talisman's 
briUiance clouding he hastened to 
Murcia, arriving just in time to 
see Blanchfleur being led to her 
death. On learning her fearful 
phght he challenged her guilty 
accuser to mortal combat. Ajoub 
enlisted his son's aid, who entered 
the lists in his stead, while 
Blanchfleur, veiled in black, was 
unable to perceive her supporter. 



FLO 

Florioe vanquished his adversary, 
then, being assaijed by Ajoub, 
he proved victorious in this second 
duel also. A slave confessed 
having been accomplice to Ajoub, 
thus proving Blanchfleur's inno- 
cence. Ever fearing treachery 
towards his lover, the young 
prince contracted a fever. His 
physician Averroes, procured 
through the influence of the Sultan 
of Algeria, relieved the worst 
symptoms of the malady, but 
insisted on Blanchfleur's presence 
for his patient's recovery. Felix, 
angry at the idea of the lovers' 
reunion, deported the unhappy 
girl to Alexandria, to be sold as 
a slave. His queen, indignant at 
such ignominy, reproached Felix, 
but without avail . Florice , despite 
his illness, set out in pursuit, the 
magic ring again warning him of 
her danger. On learning that 
Blanchfleur had been sold to the 
Amiral of Babylon, he became 
frantic with rage. While enter- 
tained in the city he received a ring 
from his host which would procure 
him the assistance of a trustworthy 
burgess named Dayre. This 
wealthy man then proceeded to 
teU Florice that his quest was in 
vain, because the fortress of the 
amiral was impregnable, being 
guarded by many soldiers. But 
the passion of Florice over- 
shadowed all obstacles, and he 
determined to attack the castle of 
marble in which his lady love was 
imprisoned. Dayre, admiring the 
enamoured youth's brave heart, 
devised a clever plot. He advised 
Florice to gain the favour of the 
porter, and to pretend he was an 
architect examining the tower, so 
as to build a similar edifice in his 
native land. Florice straightway 
proceeded to the palace with his 
servant SaHm, and so well did he 
succeed that he soon enlisted the 



113 FLO 

aid of the porter. Blanchfleur was 
passionately fond of flowers, and 
it was the duty of the porter to 
supply them. Gazing at the 
hampers of flowers one morning, 
the man thought his accom- 
pUce might reach the lady's 
chamber in one of them. This 
novel scheme delighted Florice, 
who immediately placed himself 
within one. After covering Florice 
with leaves the porter despatched 
the hamper to Blanchfleur's room. 
The basket proving heavy for the 
two carriers, they set it down 
before the apartment of Clarice. 
The young prince, hearing soft 
footsteps coming towards him, 
sprang out, beheving the girl to be 
Blanchfleur. The friendly Clarice, 
reahzing Florice's purpose, led him 
to her companion's chamber. The 
meeting of the long-separated 
lovers, in which they gave vent 
to their pent-up feelings, showed 
the depth of their mutual passion. 
Clarice promised to help the 
devoted pair to escape. One morn- 
ing the amiral was surprised to 
find Clarice in attendance instead 
of Blanchfleur. Being told that 
his servant was ill, having passed a 
restless night praying for the 
safety of her master, he felt 
satisfied, and rejoiced at such 
devotion. But next morning 
Blanchfleur was still missing, so 
the enraged amiral rushed to her 
chamber, and there learnt the 
cause of her neglect. The lovers 
were put on trial, and realizing 
that death would be the verdict, 
they resolved to die together. 
This devotion caused the amiral 
to revoke the stem decree, and 
release them. Florice revealed his 
high rank, and the amiral ordered 
the two lovers to marry, then sent 
the young adventurer back to his 
dominions. After converting the 
Saracen Amiral of Babylon to 



FLO 

Christianity, Florice departed for 
Murcia, on hearing of the death of 
his father, where he succeeded to 
the throne. 

FLORIPAS. ( Vide " Sir Ferumbras.") 
Daughter of Eaban. She be- 
friended the Christian knights, 
even drowning her old governess, 
and MUing the gaoler, Britomarte, 
because they refused to help them. 
She fell in love with Sir Guy of 
Burgundy before she ever saw 
him, became a Christian and 
married him. She helped the 
Christian knights to take her 
father's castle and gave them her 
magical girdle to keep them from 
starving. Charlemagne gave her half 
of Spain as her marriage portion. 

FOLLAMAN. In Irish romance, the 
youngest son of the Ulster King, 
Conor (q.v.). He led the ill-fated 
boy corps against the host of 
Maev (q.v.). 

FOMORIANS. In romance, the pri- 
meval inhabitants of Ireland. 
Gross, cruel, misshapen monsters, 
they were driven out of the north 
seas by the people of Partholan 
(q.v.) ; they conquered the Neme- 
dians (q.v.) on Long Island ; under 
their leader Balor (q.v.) they 
cruelly oppressed the Danaans 
(q.v.), until in the second Battle of 
Moytura they were completely 
routed by them. The Fomorians 
were not a people, but they 
represented the fierce powers of 
evil, as the Danaans the enlighten- 
ing strength of knowledge. 

FORBAY. In Irish romance, son of 
Conor mac Nessa (q.v.). Having 
discovered that Maev (q.v.) was 
wont to bathe early every morning 
in a pool near to the landing-place 
of her island home, he measured 
the distance from the bathing- 
place to the mainland. Returning 
to Emania he practised shooting 
with a sling at an apple fixed on a 



114 



FOU 



pole at this distance from him 
until his aim became perfectly 
sure. Then with a missile from 
his sling he smote the queen 
fatally in the centre of the forehead. 

FORGALL. In Irish romance, the wily 
Lord of Lusca, father of Emer. 
He fell lifeless in leaping from 
the rampart of a dun or building 
to escape Cuchulain (q.v.), who 
sought, and finally won, his 
daughter as his wife. 

FOUR SONS OF AYMON. A romance 
of the Charlemagne cycle. Their 
names were Renaud, Richard, 
Alard, and Guichard. They come 
to court, are knighted by the king, 
and bid for favour tUl they incur 
his wrath. Renaud quarrels with 
Charles's nephew Bertolis, whom he 
slays. After this the brothers leap 
upon Bayard, a favourite horse, 
and gallop to their father's castle. 
But Aymon favours the outraged 
king, and consequently casts his 
sons adrift. During their long 
wanderings, they suffer extreme 
privation, which bring them to the 
feet of their mother, who attempts 
to shield them. But their father 
again banishes the brothers. They 
faU into the hands of Yon, King 
of Bordeaux, whom they assist in 
his war with the Saracens. Yon 
marries his sister to Renaud, and 
lets him build a strong castle 
named Montauban on a rock over- 
looking the Garonne. Charles 
hears of this, and is furious. He 
sets out to avenge his nephew's 
death, and besieges the castle. 
Siege after siege takes place, 
during which much blood is spilt. 
Yon betrays the brothers, but 
they retain the castle, while Renaud 
endeavours to make peace. Charles 
is obdurate. The stronghold is 
impregnable ; but within food 
becomes scarce. Everything 
worth eating has been devoured, 



FRA 



"5 



FRA 



and now Bayard is bled to keep 
them alive. At last a joust between 
Renaud and Roland is to be the 
deciding point in the conflict. 
The combat is indecisive, a truce 
is called, whUe Roland is helped 
into the castle by his opponents. 
Charlemagne is angry at seeing 
them apparently on the best of 
terms, and determines that the 
siege be resumed. Renaud en- 
counters Charles, whom he over- 
comes, but lets him go unhurt. 
Mangis, the wizard, steals the 
royal crown, and throwing Charles 
into an enchanted sleep, carries 
him within the castle. The amazed 
king wakes to find himself a 
prisoner, and is again approached 
to make peace ; but without avail. 
Renaud lets him go free, saying, 
" When it pleases God and you, 
we shall be friends." The broilers 
hold out and succeed in capturing 
Richard of Normandy, and, send- 
ing word to Charles, threaten their 
prisoner's Hfe if peace is not forth- 
coming. But the king heeds not 
the threat until his knights rebel 
against his inflexibility. Peace is 
at last restored, the prisoner is 
released, and Renaud promises the 
king to undertake a pilgrimage to 
Jerusalem. In poor attire he 
deserts his castle and wanders to 
Cologne, to find a cathedral in 
construction. By way of pious 
exercise he joins the band of 
hodmen whom he assists. They 
become jealous of his marvellous 
strength and slay him. They 
cast his body into the river, but 
it floats miraculously, shedding 
an unearthly light accompanied 
by angelic chants. The bells of 
the cathedral ring of themselves, 
the sick are cured, and the hero is 
transfigured into a saint. 

FRACHRA. One of the children of 
Eir (q.v.). 



FRAGARACH ("The Answerer"). 
In Irish legend, a sword that could 
pierce any mail. It was one of the 
magical gifts brought by Lugh 
{q.v.) from the Land of the Living. 

FRAINE, LAY LE (or. The Adven- 
ture of the Ash). An English 
translation from the French of 
Marie de France. Once there lived 
two wealthy knights, friends from 
infancy, who had married about 
the same time. One' lady gave 
birth to twins, an event which 
her husband communicated to his 
friend. The messenger's reception 
was cordial enough, but he was 
surprised at the knight's lady's 
manifest disgust. So he hastened 
back to inform his master of the 
curious attitude displayed by his 
friend's wife. Soon afterwards 
this unjust lady was delivered of 
twip daughters. Thereupon she 
contrived a plot to destroy one of 
the infants. Soliciting her mid- 
wife's aid, she implored her to 
declare that only one child had 
been born. The horrified midwife 
refused to comply with such an 
inhuman request. So a trust- 
worthy servant proposed to con- 
ceal the infant, and reheved the 
unnatural mother of her unde- 
sired burden. She bestowed great 
care on the upbringing of her 
other daughter. After the mother 
had placed a ring on the child's 
finger, the serving-maid laid her 
tiny charge, wrapped in a rich 
mantle, under the porch of an 
abbey at nightfall. Early the 
following morning the abandoned 
infant was discovered by the 
porter of the abbey, who hastened 
with the foundUng to his wife. 
Hearing of the discovery, the 
abbess claimed the child, and 
educated her in the Christian 
faith. She named her protigie 
Fraine (meaning ash, under which 



FRA 



ii6 



FRI 



tree she was discovered), and 
under her strict guardianship the 
deserted daughter blossomed into 
womanhood. Sir Garoun, a young 
knight possessed of rich lands, 
hearing of Fraine, went to the 
abbey so that he might win her. 
Captivated with her beauty, he 
resolved to enter into the religious 
order of the abbey to be near the 
maiden. Never doubting his 
honesty of purpose the abbess 
granted his request, and he soon 
won the heart of Fraine, who 
agreed to elope with her lover, 
taking with her the mantle and 
ring. Sir Garoun carried her to 
his castle, where they lived in 
perfect fehcity. His knights, ob- 
serving that Fraine was not 
his legal wife, and pointing out 
that he must bring forth an 
heir to the baronage, urged him to 
forsake her. Accordingly he visited 
a neighbouring knight, who pro- 
mised Garoun his daughter's hand, 
the wedding to take place at his 
own castle. The guests arrived, 
and Fraine bore her sorrow pa- 
tiently. The feast was attended 
with the utmost formahty, and, 
strangely enough, Fraine's young 
rival, named Le Codre, was ob- 
served to bear a striking resem- 
blance to her. The bride's mother, 
on going to inspect the bridal 
chamber, discovered, to her horror, 
the incriminating mantle, which 
Le Fraine had placed upon the 
bed. Thereupon she disclosed the 
relationship between them, en- 
Mghtening the guests, curious as to 
the cause of the interrupted cere- 
mony. Sir Garoun claimed his 
former love, directing the priest to 
dissolve his newly-formed bond 
with Le Codre. Thus Le Fraine 
was restored to her rightful posi- 
tion, and was wed to Sir Garoun. 
Her twin-sister subsequently 
married a neighbouring lord. 



FRAINE, LE. The twin-daughter of 
one of the " two knights " referred 
to in the Lay le Fraine {q.v.) 
and sister to Le Codre. She at 
her birth was deserted by her 
mother. Discovered by an abbess 
she became an imnate of her 
rehgious house. She subsequently 
fled with Sir Garoun (q.v.), whom 
she afterwards married. 

FRIAR BACON. A sixteenth-century 
Enghsh romance concerning the 
famous alchemist, printed entire 
in the Miscellanea Antiqua Angli- 
cana. The traditional compila- 
tion is entirely destitute of fact. 
Friar Bacon, reading one-tiay of 
the many conquests of England, 
bethought himself how he might 
make the island impregnable, and 
himself famous. After much study 
he resolved to make a brazen head, 
which should speak, and also to 
wall all England about with brass. 
Assisted by Friar Bungay, a 
noted magician, he formed a head 
of brass, shaped like a man's, so 
that it might speak. They con- 
jured up a spirit to learn the gift 
of speech. Satan appeared, and 
asked them what was required. 
" Know," said Friar Bacon, " that 
we have made an artificial , head 
of brass, which we desire should 
speak. As we are imable to confer 
speech, we therefore solicit your 
aid." The devil replied that only 
God could enlighten them. "Liar," 
cried Friar Bacon, " I know that 
thou dost dissemble, and therefore 
inform me directly, or we wiU 
imprison thee here on earth during 
our pleasure." Thus threatened, 
Satan consented, and told them 
that " by the application of a 
continual fume of the six hottest 
simples " the head would move, and 
in one month would speak. But if 
they were not within hearing when 
it spoke, all their labour would be 



FRI 



117 



lost. Being satisfied, the two magi- 
cians allowed the spirit to depart. 
The learned friars prepared the 
simples, made the fume, and 
watched continually for the head 
to speak. Three weeks elapsed, 
so that they felt weary, and fain 
would rest. Friar Bacon called 
his man Miles, and entreated him 
to watch whilst they slept, and 
to call them if the brazen head 
spoke. Soon they were fast asleep, 
and Miles was alone with his 
charge. To keep awake. Miles 
got a tabor and pipe and burst 
into song. Suddenly the head 
spoke these words : " Time Is." 
Deeming this insignificant. Miles 
let the friars sleep on. " Thou 
brazen head, after all my master's 
labour dost thou requite him with 
two words 1 " cried he. " I know 
Time Is, and that you shall hear." 
So MUes sang a song conveying 
the moral that there was a time 
for everything. " I hope we 
scholars know our time, when to 
get drunk, when to kiss our 
hostess, and when to pay the 
reckoning — that time comes sel- 
dom," pursued he. After half an 
hour had passed, the head again 
spoke these words : " Time Was." 
Miles stiU scoffed, and in scorn 
sang another song, telHng how the 
head was once a kettle, now 
spoiled by Friar Bacon. "I know 
Time Was, and I know that which 
existed when Time was. Unless 
you speak wiser I will not disturb 
the slumbering friars." Thus 
Miles talked and sang until another 
half-hour was gone. Then the 
brazen head spoke again these 
words : " Time Is Past," and 
therewith fell down with a crash. 
A terrific din followed, accom- 
panied by strange flashes of fire, 
which frightened Miles, and awoke 
the two friars. When the smoke 
vanished, they beheld the brazen 



FRI 

head broken and lying on the 
floor. Friar Bacon asked if it 
had spoken. " Yes," quoth Miles, 
" it spoke, but to no purpose. 
I'll teach a parrot to speak better 
in less time." " Out on thee, 
villain, thou hast undone us both ! " 
exclaimed Friar Bacon. " First 
it said, ' Time Is ! '" " Hadst 
thou called us then, we had been 
made for ever," said Friar Bacon. 
" Then half an hour after it said, 
' Time Was,' " continued Miles. 
" Why didst thou not call us 
then ? " asked Bungay. " Because 
I thought it would have told me 
some long tale, and then I meant 
to call you," answered Miles. 
" After another half an hour it 
cried, ' Time is Past,' and made 
such a noise that ye awakened." 
Friar Bacon was so enraged that 
he would have beaten Miles, had 
not Bungay restrained him. As a 
punishment, he struck him dumb 
for a whole month. Thus the 
great work of these learned men 
was overthrown by this simple 
fellow. 

On another occasion, when the 
King of England was carrying on 
a war in France, Bacon, in response 
to a summons, hastened to effect 
the capitulation of a city for his 
royal master by setting fire to 
the state house of the beleagured 
town, without ever approaching 
the walls of the fortress. The 
city consequently fell. 

So great was his skill in the art 
of magic, that he was able to 
bring to hfe the ghosts of departed 
warriors. On one occasion while 
displaying one of these scenes, he 
revived the persons of Pompey and 
Julius Caesar, who fought a battle 
before several spectators. He 
raised the ghost of Hercules, 
whom he commanded to crush a 
venomous dragon. The battle of 
Troy was, on another occasion, 



FRI 



faithfully represented. Hector 
with his Trojans, and Achilles 
with his Greeks came into deadly 
combat at his bidding : Hector 
was slain and the Trojans fled. 
In settling disputes he excelled. 
A quarrel between three brothers 
who fought over their deceased 
father's estate was ended by his 
sMU. Having the body of the 
father exhumed, he ordered the 
three sons to shoot at it as they 
would at a target, and to him 
whose arrow went nearest the 
heart the estates would be given. 
The two elder brothers did as the 
friar directed, but the younger 
of the three hesitated, saying that 
his veneration for the body of his 
father whom he loved was too 
great to permit of his treating it 
so. The lands were awarded this 
faithful and reverent son. At 
last, after many years of magical 
practice. Bacon resorted to a life 
of seclusion ; and, after a brief 
retirement, died. 

FRIAR RUSH, (German Bausch.) 
A house-spirit, sent from the 
infernal regions in the seventeenth 
century to keep the monks and 
friars in the same state of wicked- 
ness they were then in. He gained 
admittance as a scuUion, and 
played the monks divers pranks. 
The legends of this roysterer are 
of German origin. " Friar Rush " 
probably represents the spirit of 
inebriety. 

FRITHJOF SAGA, THE. An Ice- 
landic semi-historical romance, 
probably of the eighth century, 
committed to writing about the 
end of the thirteenth century. 
Frithjof was the son of Thane 
Thorsten, the friend of King Bele 
of Norway. He played with the 
little Princess Ingebjorg, and with 
her was sent to the sage Holding 
tiO learn wisdom. King Bele and 



Ii8 FRI 

his thane, Thorsten, died, and the 
Princes Helgi and Halfdan then 
shared their father's throne. But 
Frithjof entered upon his rich 
inheritance of Framnas, and of the 
three great treasures of Thorsten — 
his wonder-bright sword Angur- 
vadel {q.v.) with its strange runes 
that dulled in peace and flamed in 
war, the arm-ring of Wayland 
Smith, and Ellide (q.v.) the dragon- 
ship. After the death-feast of his 
father he came over the sea to 
the grave-mound of King Bele to 
ask the ruling brothers for the 
hand of Ingebjorg their sister. 
But Helgi sneered, and in angry 
contempt the rejected suitor sun- 
dered with his sword the gold and 
brazen shield of the dark prince. 
Then he returned to his ship home- 
wards. Frithjof, however, had a 
rival, and this was the old and 
mild King Ring, a widower. He 
too was refused his suit, and there- 
fore came to give war to the 
princes. Helgi then shut up Inge- 
bjorg in Baldur's temple, which 
no Northman would profane, and 
sent Hilding to persuade Frithjof 
to lend his aid against King Ring. 
Deaf to the entreaties of his old 
tutor to help King Bale's sons, he 
was moved by Ingebjorg's tears. 
He therefore cUmbed into Baldur's 
grove, fearing nothing for having 
profaned it. Then, after three 
days, he returned to his old play- 
fellow to tell her that Helgi had 
refused his offer. All men were 
flow against him for his sacrilegious 
crime, and for punishment he was 
bidden to wrest from Yarl Angan- 
tyr the tribute due to the sons 
of King Bele on pain of perpetual 
exile. Unable to pursuade Inge- 
bjorg to go with him, he set out 
for the island ruled over by 
Anga,ntyr, despite the attempt of 
Helgi to engulf him in the storm 
raised by the sea-witches Heyd and 



FRO 



119 



Ham (q.v.). Before reaching the 
castle he overcame the Viking Atli 
(q.v.), but spared his life on account 
of his fearlessness, and became his 
friend. He was welcomed by 
Angantyr, his father's friend, who 
had given presents, not tribute, to 
King Bele, and was rewarded with 
a purse of gold. Remaining with 
the yarl until spring, he then sailed 
for seven days Framnas-ward, to 
find it razed, burnt, and in ruins, 
and to learn from Hilding that 
King Ring had conquered and 
had wedded Ingebjorg. Then mad- 
ness seized upon Frith j of, and he 
became dangerous to friend and 
foe aUke. In the temple of Baldur, 
where the midsummer feast was 
being held, Frithjof challenged 
the shrinking Helgi to single 
combat, when noticing Ingebjorg's 
armlet upon the arm of the 
image of Baldur, he tugged it off. 
But the force of the wrenching 
overbalanced the god, and he fell 
into the fire. Immediately the 
temple took fire, which spread to 
the grove, which soon was ablaze. 
In holy terror Frithjof sought the 
sea, and was chased with ten war- 
ships by Helgi. Bjom, however, 
had bored holes in them on the 
previous night, and all aboard 
were drowned save the dark king. 
Frithjof and his men then became 
successful vikings, but after three 
years he turned Ellide, his ship, 
to the Northland. Attired as a 
beggar, and bent with seeming age, 
he sat upon the bench without the 
hall of King Ring, who was cele- 
brating the Yule-tide feast. But 
a bluS warrior seeking to make 
jest of the beggar, Frithjof caught 
him and turned him head over 
heels upon his feet again. Then 
the king bade him throw off his 
disguise, when he revealed himself 
as a young and noble warrior, 
richly dressed. The royal host 



FRO 

gave no sign of recognition, but 
Ingebjorg blushed and paled. 
Twice Frithjof had his enemy's 
life in his hands. But the old 
man had recognized him from the 
first, and had thus tested his faith. 
Finally the generous king thrust 
his sword into his own breast and 
died. But Frithjof, before wedding 
with Ingebjorg, sought forgiveness 
from Baldur, who vouchsafed him 
a vision of a temple. According 
to its design Frithjof built a temple 
to the god, was forgiven by him 
through the high priest, made 
Ingebjorg his bride, and took in 
friendship the hand of her surviv- 
ing brother, Halfdan. In this 
saga we have another of those 
legends obviously superimposed 
upon the universal conception of 
the sun-myth. Following the 
general scheme, the hero, obscure 
at first, gradually rises into noto- 
riety, wanders for a period, is 
attacked by madness, and finally 
weds in peace the beautiful maiden 
he has sought so long. In each 
of these steps we note those of 
the sun on his path — his obscurity 
at first, but promise of greatness, 
his climbing to power, his wan- 
dering, his dangerous and dizzy 
height at noon, and his final rest 
and peace at sunset. 

FROL, LA ORGULUS, SIR. Brother 
to Sir BelUance. In defending 
his wife against some knights he 
was slain by Sir Lamorak (q.v.). 
(F*de " Morte d' Arthur.") 

FROMONDIN. (Vide "Garin the 
Lorrainer.") Son of Fromont, a 
brave knight who was knighted 
in order to fight at a Certain 
tourney. Rigaut fought him, un- 
horsed him, and took him prisoner. 
Fromondin afterwards fought with 
Huo of Cambrai and beat him, but 
granted him his life ; Bernard 



FRO 

later stabbed Huo to Fromondin's 
indignation. 

FRO MONT. {Vide "Garin the Lor- 
rainer.") Son of Count Hardie 
{q.v.), one of Pepin's counsellors. 
He was at one time very friendly 
with the Lorrainers, but he quar- 
relled with Garin, on account of 
his intended marriage to Blanch- 
flower (q.v.), and Garin never could 
forgive Fromont for not keeping 
his promise to punish the murderers 
of Bego (q.v.). Towards the end 
of his hfe Fromont met with many 
misfortunes, and lost many of his 
kinsmen and his lands in fighting 
with Garin. 

FRUTE OF DANELAND. (Vide" Gn- 
drun Lay.") One of Horant's men 



120 GAI 

(vide "Horant") who came with 
him to King Hettel and formed 
one of the embassy sent to King 
Hagen (vide " Hagen and Hettel "). 
He also took part in the struggles 
described in " Gudrun " (q.v.). 

FUAMNACH. Wife of Midir the 
Proud (q.v.), who took as his 
second bride, Etain (q.v.), whose 
great beauty and grace evoked the 
jealousy of Fuamnach. So by 
magic art she transformed her 
rival into a butterfly. 

FURION. Nephew to Archelous 
(q.v.) ; was slain by Esplandian 
(q.v.) after his conquest over 
Archelous. 



GAE BOLG. In Irish romance, a 
terrible weapon, thrown with the 
foot. If it entered into an enemy's 
body it filled every part of him 
with its barbs. The thrust of this 
sword was taught by Skatha (q.v.) 
to Cuchulain (q.v.). 

GAHERIS (1). Nephew to King 
Arthur (q.v.). (Vide " Morte 
d'Arthur.") 

GAHERIS (2), SIR. Son of King Lot, 
brother of Gawaine and Gareth, 
a knight of the court of Arthur, 
sometime friend of Sir Tristram. 
He was killed by Sir Lancelot in 
the rescue of Guinevere from the 
stake. ( Vide ' ' Morte d'Arthur. ' ' ) 

GAHMURET. The father of Parzival 
or Percival, alluded to in Wolfram 
von Eschenbach's Parzival (q.v.). 
He went to the East, took service 
with Baruc, and won the love of 
the heathen Queen Belakane, to 
whom he promised to return, and 
by whom he had a son Feirefiz 



(q.v.). Instead of returning to her 
he became attached to Herzeloyde, 
who was attracted to him by his 
prowess at a tournament, and 
whom he married on condition 
that he might go tourneying every 
month. Hearing that his old lord 
Baruc was in danger, he hastened 
to him and was slain. 

GAIMAR, GEOFFREY. Translated 
Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia 
Regum Britannice into Anglo- 
Norman verse shortly after it was 
written. This he did at the request 
of the lady to whose household he 
was attached, Constance, wife of 
Ralph Fitz Gilbert, a powerful 
baron of the North in Stephen's 
time. The copy of Geoffrey from 
which Gaimar translated was ob- 
tained through a Yorkshire baron, 
Walter Espec, from Robert, Earl 
of Gloucester, to whom the original 
work had been dedicated. Gaimar 
continued the British Chronicle 



GAL 



121 



GAL 



by adding a metrical history of 
the Anglo-Saxon kings. Wace's 
Brut caused Gaimar's book to fall 
out of request, and only a portion 
of it is now known to be extant. 
He also translated Havehk the 
Dane (q.v.) from the French. 

GALAAD. Son of Joseph, of the 
Castle of Galafort. Joseph hears 
a voice from heaven which calls 
on him to beget a son. 

GALACIAN. A Saracen King alluded 
to in the romance of Ogier of 
Denmark. Sadone {q.v.) knocks 
out three of his teeth for opposing 
the freedom of Ogier. 

GALAHAD, SIR. Son of Lancelot ; 
famous in Arthurian legend for his 
success in the quest of the Holy 
GraU. With him are associated 
Sir Perceval, Bors, and Lancelot. 
It is recorded that after the quest 
his soul leaves his body, and is 
borne heavenwards by angels, 
whilst his body is buried. 

His first appearance seems to 
have been at the Round Table. 
He is hailed to the " Seat Peril- 
ous " on which this was written : 
" This is Galahad's seat." Queen 
Guinevere is told of the advent of 
the new knight, and her ladies ex- 
claim, "He shall end the wonders 
of Great Britain, and through 
him the Maimed King shall be 
healed." Sir Galahad, among all 
the knights, is the only one who 
successfully draws the sword from 
the block of red marble on which 
is written that none may draw 
it save " the best knight in the 
world." Lancelot refuses to essay 
the venture, exclaiming that " the 
wonders of the Holy Grail are 
about to begin," although Gawain, 
Perceval, and others try, and 
signally fail. On the morrow, at 
King Bagdemagus's suggestion, 
all the questers, Galahad first, 
swear to maintain the quest for a 



year and a day, and longer if need 
be. After the queen had taken 
leave of Lancelot, and Arthur had 
vainly tried to force a shield on 
Sir Galahad, the questers set off 
together and pass the first night 
at Vagan's Castle. After five days 
Sir Galahad comes to an abbey 
where he finds King Bagdemagus 
and Ywain and the rest. The 
abbey contains a shield which no 
knight save the destined one may 
take and go unslain or unhurt. 
Sir Galahad proves to be the right- 
ful knight, and takes possession of 
it. King Bagdemagus would fain 
have taken it, but is overthrown 
by a White Knight, who admits 
Sir Galahad's rightful ownership. 
One of the first of Sir Galahad's 
allegorical adventures, as re- 
counted in the Quete del Saint 
Qraal, appears to be that 
he draws near a tomb in an 
abbey graveyard, whence issues a 
voice telUng him not to approach 
and drive it out. But he does so, 
and smoke in man's form emerges ; 
on opening the tomb a dead 
knight's body is found lying 
therein. This is cast out. These 
things are a symbol : the hard 
tombstone signifies the " hard- 
heartedness of the world " (the 
hardship which Jesus Christ had 
in this world) ; the dead body 
those dead in sin. The smoke was 
a devil who fled from Galahad 
because he was a virgin. 

The next day Sir Galahad sets 
out accompanied by MeUans {q.v.), 
a youth who had begged to be 
allowed to serve him, and whom 
he had knighted. They separate 
at a cross-road. MeUans takes the 
left-hand road in spite of warning, 
comes to a tent where hangs a 
golden crown, seizes it, meets a 
strange knight who overthrows 
and had slain him but for Gala- 
had coming to the rescue and 



GAL 



122 



GAL 



overcoming first one, and then a 
second assailant. Melians is taken 
to an abbey to be tended, and learns 
that the two knights who almost 
overpowered him were his pride in 
taking the left-hand path, and his 
covetousness in carrying off the 
crown of gold. Galahad then 
enters a hernaitage to pray, and 
hears a voice bidding him proceed 
to the Castle of Maidens and rid it 
of its many evils. He encounters 
on the way seven knights whom he 
must overcome. Such was the 
custom of the castle. He forces 
them to fight, and an old priest 
brings him the keys of the castle. 
He finds therein numberless 
maidens, and learns that the 
former lord of the castle had been, 
with his son, slain by the seven 
knights who had striven before- 
hand to carry ofi his daughter. 
She foretold that as they had 
gained the castle for a maiden's 
sake, they would lose it through 
a maiden, and be overcome by a 
single knight, whereupon they 
determined to make prisoner every 
maiden passing that way. Gala- 
had deUvers the captives, and puts 
a daughter of the former duke in 
possession of the castle. He learns 
then that the seven brothers have 
been slain by Gawain, Gheriot, 
and Ywain. Sir Galahad, after 
wandering about a while adventure- 
less, encounters Sir Lancelot and 
Perceval, who attack him, not 
knowing his arms (shield). He 
overcomes them and hurries off, 
being ashamed to have fought 
with his friends, whom a recluse 
recognizes and informs him of their 
identity. Lancelot starts in pursuit 
of " The Unknown Knight." 

We now find that Sir Galahad, 
after " numberless adventures," 
finds himself opposed to Gawain 
and Hector de Mares in a tourna- 
ment ; he deals the former such a 



blow as knocks him out of the 
saddle. He is brought to the ship 
wherein are Perceval and Bors by 
a damsel, who accompanies them 
until, fourteen days' sail from 
Logres, they come to a desert isle 
off which is another ship, on which 
is written (according to the 
Morte d' Arthur) that those who 
would enter should see they were 
full of faith. The damsel then 
tells Perceval she is his sister, 
daughter of King Pellehem. They 
enter the ship and find a rich bed 
with a crown at its head, and at 
its foot a sword six inches out of 
the scabbard, its tip a stone of 
all the colours in the world, its 
handle of the bones of two beasts, 
the serpent Papagast, the fish 
Orteniaus ; it is covered with a 
cloth whereon is written that only 
the first of his line would grasp 
the sword. Perceval and Bors 
both essay vainly. Galahad, on 
being asked, sees written on the 
blade that he only should draw 
who could strike better than the 
others. The damsel tells the story 
of the sword as foUows : When 
the ship came to the kingdom 
of Logres there was war between 
King Labor, father to the 
Maimed King, and King Urlain, 
heretofore Saracen, but newly 
baptized. Once Urlain, discom- 
fited, fled to the ship, and finding 
therein the sword, drew it and 
slew King Labor (according to 
Birch-Hirschfeld's text. Labor 
slays Urlain with it). That was 
the first blow struck with the 
sword in the kingdom of Logres, 
and there came from it such pesti- 
lence and destruction in the land 
of the two kingdoms that it was 
afterwards called the Waste Land. 
When Urlain re-entered the ship 
he fell down dead. Galahad, 
further examining the sword, finds 
the scabbard of serpent's sMn, 



GAL 



123 



but the hangings of poor stuff. 
On the scabbard is written that 
the wearer must surpass his fellows, 
and the hangings be changed only 
by a king's daughter and she a 
maid ; on tumiag the sword over, 
the other side is found black as 
pitch, and bearing words that he 
who should praise it most should 
blame it most in his greatest need. 
Further words show that King 
Pelles, called the Maimed King, 
might not be healed till Galahad 
came. Later in the chronicle 
Galahad is urged to go to the 
assistance of the Maimed King. 
Sir Perceval now seems to assume 
Sir Galahad's sword. Taking up 
the story again with Sir Galahad, 
we now find that he comes to an 
abbey wherein is King Mordrains, 
who knows his approach, and asks 
that he may 6ae in his arms ; 
Galahad takes him on his breast, 
Mordrains dies, and all his wounds 
are foimd healed. Galahad cools 
the boihng fountain by putting 
his hand in it. Galahad deUvers 
from the tomb where he had been 
burning three hundred and fifty- 
four years, his relative Symeu, 
who thus expiated his sin against 
Joseph of Arimathea. Galahad 
rides five years before he comes to 
the house of the Maimed King and 
during all the five years Perceval 
bears him company, and within 
that time they achieve the great 
adventures of the kingdom of 
Logres (i.e. cast out the evil 
adventures of the Island of 
Britain). One day they met Bors, 
who in the five years had not been 
in bed four times. The three 
come to Castle Corbenic. Sir 
Galahad alone can make the 
broken sword whole, and it is then 
given to Bors. Later in the 
chronicle Joseph gives the sacra- 
ment to Sir Galahad, and explains 
that the Grail is the dish of the 



GAL 

Last Supper, and that Galahad 
shall see it more fully in the City 
of Sarras, whither it is going 
(Britain being unworthy of it), 
and whither he is to follow it 
with Perceval and Bors ; but as 
he must not leave the land without 
healing the Maimed ICing he is to 
take some of the blood off the 
Grail lance (q.v.) and therewith 
anoint his legs. Galahad asks why 
all may not come with him ; but 
Christ says they are twelve who 
have eaten as the Apostles were 
twelve, and they must separate 
as the Apostles separated. Gala- 
had then heals the Maimed King, 
who goes into an abbey of white 
monks. The three companions, 
after sending messages to Arthur's 
court through Estrois de Gariles 
and Claudius, son of King Claudas, 
come to Solomon's ship, wherein 
they find the Holy Grail. They 
set sail, and on landing bury 
Perceval's sister, heal a cripple 
to help them to carry the Grail 
table, are cast in prison by King 
Escorant for a year, and are fed 
by the Holy Grail. At Escorant's 
death Galahad is made king, 
fashions a tree of gold' and 
precious stones over the Grail, 
and prays before it every morning, 
as do his companions. On the 
anniversary of Galahad's crowning 
the three see before the Holy 
Vessel a man clad Uke a bishop, 
who begins Mass and calls Galahad 
to see what he had so longed to 
see. At the sight Galahad trembles 
very greatly, and he thanks God 
for letting him see that which 
tongue may not describe nor 
heart think, and begs that he may 
pass away from tMs earthly life 
to the heavenly one. The bishop 
then gives him the body of God, 
and reveals himself as Josephes, 
son of Joseph of Arimathea. 
Galahad kisses Perceval and Bors, 



GAL 

and sends greetings to Lancelot 
through Bors. Galahad is borne 
heavenwards, and his body is 
buried, the vessel and the bloody 
lance are also borne upwards. 
Since then there has been no 
man bold enough to say that 
he has seen the Holy Grail. {Vide 
"Morte d'Arthur" and "Grail, 
Holy.") 

GALICIA, KING OF. {Vide " Florice 
and Blanchfleur.") An ally of the 
King of Portugal, who made war 
against Prince Fehx, whose Sara- 
cen influence oppressed the people. 

GALIHODIN, SIR. Brother to Sir 
Lancelot. After an inconspicuous 
career he was presented with the 
dukedom of Saintonge in France 
by Lancelot, who for a time 
assumed the role of ruler over 
that country. {Vide "Morte 
d'Arthur.") 

GALIHUD, SIR. Brother to Lancelot, 
and knight of the Round Table. 
In Arthurian romance he is 
appointed, by his brother, overlord 
of the earldom of Perigot in 
France. 

GALIHULT, SIR. Knight of the 
Round Table. He was noted for 
his prowess in tournaments. ( Vide 
" Morte d'Arthur.") 

GALIOIN. In Irish romance, one of 
the three groups of the Firbolgs 
{q.v.). 

GANILO or GUENES. A peer of 
Charlemagne and stepfather of 
Roland. Out of his implacable 
hatred of his stepson he conspired 
with Marsile, the pagan King of 
Saragossa, to cut him off with the 
Frankish rear-guard at Ronce- 
valles. For this he was tried by 
the peers, and sentenced to be 
torn to pieces by horses {vide 
"Song of Roland"). He re- 
appears in Ariosto's Orlando 



124 GAR 

Furioso as Ganoloni, or Gano de 
Pontierie, the head of the race 
of Maganza, a tribe of traitors, 
who were dangerous to aU with 
whom they were connected. 

GANORT. Alluded to in the Orand 
Saint Graal {q.v.) as Lord of Gala- 
fort, a " Saracen " stronghold. 
He receives the Grail company 
hospitably, and shortly after their 
arrival he and his folk are baptized, 
a hundred and fifty who refuse 
being drowned. Over their bodies 
a tower is built. ( Vide " Tower of 
Marvels.") The King of Northum- 
berland, hearing of Ganort's con- 
version, summons him to his court, 
and on his refusal attacks him, but 
is defeated and slain. 

GARACH. A battle in Irish romance, 
fought on the plain bearing the 
same name, between Queen Maev 
{q.v.) and the Ulstermen, in which 
the latter were victorious. 

GAR ALAS. A knight alluded to in 
the Conte del Graal {q.v.) as the 
knight of the damsel who steals 
the hound mentioned in that 
romance. He is also the brother 
of the Knight of the Tomb {q.v.) 
and is overcome by Perceval. 

GARCIA PEREZ DE VARGAS. This 
romantic poem of Spain recounts 
an adventure of a distinguished 
warrior and native of Toledo, who 
fought under King Ferdinand, 
sumamed " The Saint " during 
the warfare by which the Moorish 
power in Spain was overthrown. 
The incident of his valour and 
prowess about to be related, 
occurred about the beginning of 
the siege of Seville in the year 
1248, is contained in Lockhart's 
Spanish Ballads, and is taken 
from the Spanish history of 
Juan de Mariana. King Ferdi- 
nand stood one day on the hill 
watching two cavaliers riding 



GAR 



along the glen. They were Don 
Garcia Perez and a knight, who 
urged him to ride on quickly as 
he saw the gleam of the helm 
and lance of the Moorish host in 
the distance. Vargas returned 
that he was ready to meet any one, 
but the knight turned quickly and 
fled to the camp, leaving his 
friend alone. Seven Moors came 
up to him with haughty mien, 
and resplendent in armour, but 
Vargas met them calmly. The 
Moors, recognizLag him by the 
Red Cross and the Tree upon his 
shield, did not speak. Vargas 
removed the casque from his head, 
and noticed that the scarf he had 
worn was gone. Thinking he had 
dropped it, he looked around and 
discovered that the Moors had 
picked it up and looped it on a 
spear. As the scarf had been 
given to him by his lady-love he 
preferred to fight for it rather 
than leave it with them, so he 
rode furiously among them and 
called upon them to lay down his 
lady's pledge. They resisted, but 
were ultimately overthrown, and 
when he returned to camp he 
was the proud bearer of the scarf 
thrown around his breast. His 
sword was red with blood, and 
seven green turbans sorely hacked, 
hung upon his pommel. 

GARETH, SIR, Or Beaumaris, 
Knight of , the " Round Table." 
He married Dame Liones (q.v.) of 
the Castle Perilous. Subsequently 
slain by Sir Lancelot, in the rescue 
of Guinever from the Stake. ( Vide 
" Morte d'Arthur.") 

GARIN DE MONTGLANE. A sub- 
cycle of the Charlemagne cycle 
(q.v.), consisting of twenty-four 
separate romances, eighteen of 
which are concerned with and 
included in the sub-cycle of William 
of Orange (q.v.). The first six 



125 GAR 

romances of the sub-cycle recount 
the adventures of the House of 
Montglane or Narbonne. Les 
Enfances Garin de Montglane tells 
how Garin, son of Duke Savary of 
Aquitaine, fights first in Sicily, 
procures atonement for the wrongs 
of his mother, and proceeds to the 
court of Charlemagne. He con- 
quers the territory of Montglane, 
and weds the Lady Mohiller, the 
details of his marriage occupying 
the second romance, the Oarin de 
Montglane proper. By this lady 
he has four sons, Hemant de 
Beaulande, Gerard de Viana (q.v.). 
Renin de Gennes, and Milles de 
Poule. Each of the three first is 
the subject of a separate romance. 
Hernant de Beaulande tells how 
the hero conquers Aquitaine, 
marries Pregonde, and becomes 
the father of Aimeri de Narbonne. 
The Renin de Gennes tells of the 
success of its hero at Genoa, when 
he becomes the father of the 
famous Ohver and Aude. Gerard 
de Viana wiU be found treated 
under a separate heading as being 
important for its picture of the 
early quarrel of Roland and OUver. 
We then pass to the third genera- 
tion in Aimeri de Narhonne, and 
the events subsequent to Ronces- 
vaux. On his return from that 
battle Aimeri rescues Barboune 
from pagan hands. He marries 
Hermengart, sister of the King of 
the Lombards, repulses the Sara- 
cens who endeavour to rescue 
Narbonne, and becomes the father 
of twelve children, one of whom is 
the famous William of Orange 
(q.v.). 

GARIN OF ANSEUNE. (Cycle of 
WiUiam of Orange.) A scion of 
the race of Aymery, and father of 
Vivian. (F*(?e "Enfances Vivian.") 

GARIN THE LORRAINER. A very 
popular twelfth-century epic, the 



GAR 



126 



GAR 



characters in which were genuinely 
historical. But it is replete with 
anachronisms. The story is laid 
in the eighth century and com- 
mences with a description of the 
Vandal invasion of France in the 
time of Charles Martel. Hervi, 
Duke of Metz, defeated the Sara- 
cens (or Vandals) at Soissons, and 
after Charles' death at Troyes, had 
his son, Pepin, crowned. Hervi 
married and had two sons — Garin 
the nominal hero of the poem, and 
Bego perhaps a greater hero. When 
the Vandals besieged Metz, Hervi 
asked Pepin's assistance, which 
was refused, so he offered to be 
vassal to Anseis of Cologne, who 
came to his aid and conquered the 
enemy. Hervi was MUed, so 
Anseis took possession of Metz. 
Hervi's sons escaped to their 
uncle, the Bishop of Chalons. 
They afterwards went to the 
court of France, and Count Hardre 
brought them up with his own 
two sons. News came that 
Richard of Normandy was fS^vag- 
ing Beauvais, and the four young 
knights set out to fight for the 
king. They defeated Richard, 
subdued Flanders, and Garin added 
Gascony and Poitouto his territory, 
and gained back Metz. Then 
Thierry, King of Savoy, was 
besieged by four Moorish kings 
of Spain, and applied for aid to 
Pepin. Pepin refused, but the 
four knights persuaded him to let 
them help Thierry. Garin and 
Bego commanded, and a terrible 
battle ensued. The invaders were 
routed, but Thierry was mortally 
wounded. When dying, he offered 
his daughter, Blanchflower (fifteen 
and a half years old) to Garin in 
marriage, who accepted on condi- 
tion of Pepin's approval. The 
king gave his consent, but this 
arrangement displeased Fromont, 
who quarrelled with Garin, and a 



hotly contested battle took place, 
in which Garin was victorious. 
Fromont fled to his cousin Odo at 
St. Quentin and told his story. 
Droo of Flanders told him he could 
find as good a wife for him in the 
person of Hilesend, sister of Bald- 
win, of Flanders. Droo went to 
Baldwin, proposed Fromont as a 
husband for his sister, saying 
Hardre was dead and Fromont 
would succeed him, but concealed 
the fact of his having lost Soissons 
and his other lands. Hilesend 
consented to be married at once, 
and the day after the marriage 
Baldwin discovered the trick they 
had played on him. Although 
much annoyed, he made the best 
of it, and advised Fromont to 
invade Cambrai, the property of 
Huo, a nephew of the two Lor- 
rainers. Isore, Fromont's nephew, 
headed the invaders, and when 
Huo saw who was leading, he 
appealed to Isore, reminding him 
of past services. Touched by this 
appeal, Isore refused to fight, but 
Baldwin appeared with 30,000 
men, and Huo sent a message to 
the Idng and Garin. When Huo's 
letter came, Garin told Pepin of 
Fromont's imworthy behaviour, 
and the king assembled his forces 
and marched out against him, 
sending a message to Bego. Ber- 
nard of Naisil had meanwhile gone 
to Fromont's assistance, and had 
attacked Aubry in Dijon. The 
king's message found Bego being 
entertained by Hardre's sons, who 
were unaware of their father's 
death. Bego set out at once, 
excusing himself because the king 
needed him, but hearing from 
Aubry, went first to assist him. 
On his way to Cambrai, he 
destroyed Lyons and several other 
towns, and, after conquering Bur- 
gundy he invaded Champagne. 
He then attacked Bernard at his 



GAR 



127 



castle of Naisil, and took him 
prisoner, after which he went on 
to besiege Verdun. He then got 
news that Pepin had summoned 
Fromont, who refused to answer 
for his misdeeds, and that he and 
Garin needed his assistance against 
the men of Bordeaux. He then 
set of£ for St. Quentin, pillaging 
every place on his way. A great 
battle ensued, which began with 
a quarrel between Bego and Isor6. 
Bego was wounded, and while 
being nursed sent Aubry to do 
battle for him, but on hearing he 
had been taken prisoner, he him- 
self arose, and after some fighting, 
surrounded St. Quentin, cutting 
ofi aU supplies. Bernard, still a 
prisoner, sent word to Fromont to 
make terms with Pepin. It was 
agreed that Fromont should plead 
his cause before the king. Bernard 
and Aubry exchanged, and the 
army broke up. The high court 
met at Paris, where many nobles ar- 
rived, the Lorrainers being in great 
force. Blanchflower attended. 
The Archbishop of Rheims ad- 
vised the king rather to marry 
her himself than give her to Garin. 
After seeing how lovely she was, he 
consented. Next day, the king 
summoned Fromont, commanding 
him to make peace with the 
Lorrainers. The banns were being 
proclaimed between Blanchflower 
and Garin when a monk appeared 
and forbade the marriage on the 
score of relationship between the 
pair. Some altercation took 
place, and Fromont offered his 
two sisters to Garin and Bego if 
Blanchflower would marry his 
brother, but the king now said 
he would marry Blanchflower him- 
self. Garin was ill pleased with 
this, but Bego persuaded him not 
to object, and the marriage took 
place. During the ceremony, 
Bernard insulted Garin, who was 



GAR 

holding the golden cup, and Garin 
gave him a heavy blow with it. 
A general fight took place, result- 
ing in Fremont's men being de- 
feated. Bernard carried a lying 
story about Garin to Pepin, which 1 
he believed. Garin denied it, and 
offered to meet Bernard in single 
combat, but the king refused his 
pledge, so Bego took up the 
challenge for his brother. Bego 
was victorious, and there was great 
rejoicing in Paris. Bernard es- 
caped, and vowing vengeance on 
the Lorrainers, went to prepare 
his castle for defence. Peace was 
made with Fromont, but when 
Bernard began to ravage all the 
land round his castle, Fromont 
was asked by the king if he would 
side against his uncle, and he 
agreed. Bernard defended him- 
self bravely and refused to sur- 
render, till he found that his caves 
had been discovered by Bego and 
walled iip. It was agreed he 
should keep his castle and in- 
demnify Garin, but Bego destroyed 
the castle. The king reproved 
him for this, and gave Bernard 
Uberty to rebuild it. Soon after- 
wards the queen advised the king 
to get wives for the Lorrainers, to 
prevent them marrying any of 
Fremont's kin, so the king went 
to Duke Mlo of Gascony and 
offered suitors for the latter's 
daughters. The duke said they 
were in love with Garin and Bego, 
and as these were the two knights 
of whom the king had spoken, 
there was small difficulty in the 
way. Garin married Alice and 
Bego married Beatrice, and both 
marriages brought much happiness. 
Garin was married at Metz, having 
given up his wife's share in her 
father's property to Bego, and 
taken over all his father's lands. 
He had a son called Girbert, and 
Bego had two sons, Hemaut and 



GAR 



128 



Gerin. News of these double 
marriages came to Thibaut, who 
determined to surprise Bego on 
his return home and carry off 
Beatrice. Bego, being warned of 
this by a pilgrim, was prepared for 
the ambush, and defended him- 
self bravely. He was seriously 
wounded, but the Bordelais were 
driven off. Bego then fortified 
his castle of Behn, where he was 
besieged by overwhelming num- 
bers. He found a messenger, 
Gallopin a ne'er-do-well, who went 
to King Pepin with the news to 
ask help. The queen incited the 
king to go to help Bego. Bernard, 
on attempting to make mischief, 
and insulting the queen, was 
attacked by Garin, and nearly 
killed by the people. Before help 
arrived, Bego sallied forth, with 
a small number of men, but would 
have been kiUed had Garin and 
Aubrey not come in time. The 
king ordered all the property of 
the rebels to be destroyed, which 
order Bego carried out. Mean- 
while, Bernard showing the mark 
on his face left by Garin's attack, 
and rousing the anger of his kins- 
men, they raised an army against 
the Lorrainers. At first the men 
of Bordeaux were victorious, and 
a tourney was proposed. Garin 
was too ill to accept a challenge, 
but Bego did, and he picked out 
Rigaut, son of Hervi the villein, 
who challenged Fromondin, son of 
Fremont. Bego and Aubry had 
lain down to rest before the 
combat. They were wakened by 
a lad who brought the news that 
the royahsts were getting the 
worst of it. Bego rushed out, 
fighting furiously, and carried all 
before him. Rigaut defeated Fro- 
mondin, and won great praise for 
his prowess at the tourney. The 
Lorrainers and the Bordelais met 
again in combat, but peace was 



GAR 

made by the king, and this lasted 
seven years. The second song 
ends here. 

After a time of rest in his castle, 
Bego began to weary to see his 
brother Garin, and told Beatrice 
he had heard of a wild boar in a 
wood, the head of which he would 
like to take to Garin. Beatrice 
reminded him that the wood was 
in the land of Count Baldwin, his 
enemy, and that she had a pre- 
sentiment that if he went there 
he would never come back. Bego 
was quite determined to go in 
spite of his wife's warning, and 
left next day. When he reached 
Valenciennes he stayed with Beren- 
ger, who promised to show him 
where he would find the boar, and 
also warned him of his many 
enemies. The monster killed 
nearly all the hounds. The hunts- 
men lost sight of Bego, went back 
to Valenciennes, and Bego who 
pursued the boar and killed it, 
spent the night in the forest. 
Next morning he kindled a fire, 
which was seen by a forester who 
noticed Bego's rich dress and 
accoutrements. The forester went 
back to Fremont at Lens and told 
what he had seen to the seneschal, 
who sent six men with the forester 
to kill Bego and share the spoil. 
Thibaut heard of the plot and 
joined them. After hearing Bego's 
account of how he killed the boar, 
they attacked him and he was 
killed by a steel arrow shot by the 
forester's nephew. They left Bego 
alone in the forest on a bier, and 
on arriving at the palace aU came 
out to see the dead boar, but 
Fromont saw that no ordinary 
huntsman could be the owner of 
the spoil they had brought, and 
sent for the body. Great was his 
grief and consternation when he 
found that Bego had been killed. 
He wrote to Garin, offering to have 



GAR 



129 



Thibaut and all connected with 
the murder killed. He promised 
to give great treasure of gold and 
silver, have 10,000 Masses sung, 
and swore he had been ignorant 
of the whole thing. He sent for 
an abbot, a nephew of Garin, and 
the body was consecrated. The 
funeral procession then started 
for Metz. It was met by Rigaut, 
who went to Paris to teU the news 
to the empress, and thence back to 
Blaives to put it on its defence, 
ravaging the surrounding country. 
When Garin saw the bier and 
found Bego on it, he fainted, then 
threatened vengeance against Fre- 
mont. The abbot gave them 
Fromont's letter, and Garin first 
decided to see Beatrice, who was 
at BaUn. She had heard the sad 
news, and saw only sorrow in the 
future. Bego was buried in a 
chapel near Berlin in a coffin of 
grey marble and a tomb of fine 
gold, with his likeness, and written 
above it : " This was the best that 
sat on charger." Garin made 
peace with Fromont on the under- 
standing that he would keep his 
promise, but Fromont broke it 
afterwards, and one of his kins- 
men freed the prisoners. Garin 
and Fromont each pleaded his 
cause before the king. Pepin tried 
to persuade them to make a truce 
for a certain number of years ; 
he had difficulty in quelling a hot 
fight between them at the court, 
and they quarrelled whenever they 
were not imder his observation. 
This constant warfare, continued 
for a long time, the queen always 
taking the part of Garin and Bego 
even against the king. The Lor- 
rainers in the end got the best of 
it, Garin despoihng the whole 
country, and at last the queen 
went on an embassy of peace to 
Garin. The conclusion tells of 
the death of Garin. 



GAR 

There are two versions — one 
which seems the more ancient is 
to be found in a MS. at the Arsenal 
Library of Paris, and which M. 
Dumerie assigns to the latter part 
of the thirteenth century. The 
other more popular one is by 
John of Flagy {q.v.), and it is 
guaranteed by even older , MS. 
In both stories Garin is repre- 
sented as having been attacked 
by overwhelming numbers, and 
having defended himself with 
superhuman courage. In one ver- 
sion fourteen men attacking him at 
once, kill him, and in the other, he 
is surrounded by foes while he is 
in a chapel. The end of the poem 
is to be found in Mone's Unter- 
suchungen zur GescMchte der Teut- 
schen Heldensage. There are one 
or two more modem poems in 
connection with the sub-cycle of 
the Lorrainers, full of love intrigues 
and combats with the Saracens. 

The language of " Garin " and 
many characteristics of the poem 
point to a date between the 
eleventh and twelfth centuries. 
The imperial power was beginning 
to be acknowledged, but the story 
is more confined to personal com- 
bats than national valour. Some 
of the incidents tally with events 
in the reign of Louis the Fat about 
1108, yet it is most probable the 
legend of the Lorrainers must 
have been made about more 
ancient heroes who engaged in 
the first struggle between the 
West and East. Even as far back 
as 814 to 843 in Nithard's history 
we find many names mentioned 
which appeared in the epic 
of the Lorrainers. For centuries 
Garin's adventures were beheved 
to be real even to some degree by 
the Benedictine Calmet, in his 
History of Lorraine. The feudal 
system with its good and bad 
points is well exemplified, and the 

K 



GAR 



quality of the love between the 
sexes is higher and purer and more 
domestic than it was in later years. 
The reUgious element is not strong, 
although it occurs in some touching 
incidents. The dramatic power 
is great, the scenes are repre- 
sented to the mind's eye most 
vividly, although the want of the 
supernatural element is rather 
remarkable, and Garin the 
Lorrainer may be said to hold its 
own in literature as a great epic. 
{Vide Ludlow's Popular Epics of 
the Middle Ages.) 

GARLON. In Arthurian romance, a 
knight who went about invisible, 
slaying better knights than him- 
self. BaUn {q.v.), meeting with 
several victims of his cruelty, 
traced him to the castle of King 
PeUam of Listeneise, where he 
met him at table. Garlon, irritated 
at Balin's close observation of 
him, struck him, whereupon Balin 
slew him. {Vide " Pellam.") 

6ARNIER. In the Charlemagne 
cycle of romance, nephew and 
ally of Garin and Bego. He sug- 
gested to WilUam of Orange that 
Nimes could be taken by con- 
cealing his men in barrels. WilUam 
took the hint, and secured the 
city by the said stratagem. {Vide 
" Charroi de Nimes.") 

GARSIE. {Vide "Sir Otuel.") A 
Saracen Prince, King of Lom- 
bardy, who was determined to 
abolish Christianity throughout 
Christendom. He sent a challenge 
to Charlemagne by Sir Outel, 
threatening to ravage France if 
he did not renounce the Christian 
faith. His army was completely 
routed by Charlemagne, and he 
was taken prisoner by Sir Outel, 
who had become a Christian, and 
fought on that side. Afterwards, 
when Garsie found it expedient, 



130 GAW 

he embraced Christianity and was 
baptized by Archbishop Turpin. 



GAWAIN. A hero-knight frequently 
alluded to in both Celtic and 
Norman Arthurian romance, in 
many of the incidents coimected 
with which he is the central figure. 
It is highly probable that he was 
the principal character around 
which a separate sub-cycle of 
adventures clustered, but the early 
forms of this have in aU likelihood 
been merged in the greater body 
of later Arthurian romance. No 
long romance exists which details 
his Ufe and adventures as in the 
case of Perceval or Lancelot, but 
in the Conte del Oraal of Chretien 
de Troyes and the Parzival of 
Wolfram von Eschenbach his ad- 
ventures occupy as much space 
as those of the titular hero of these 
poems. In the Diu Krone of 
Heinrich von dem Turlin he 
succeeds in the Grail quest where 
Perceval has failed, and in the 
Chevalier au Lion and Chevalier de 
la Gharrette, both by Chretien, he 
plays an important part. Gawain 
is represented as the beau-ideal of 
knightly chivalry and bravery, 
whose " strength is as the strength 
of ten, because his heart is pure." 
In his Celtic form of Gwalchmai 
apGwyar (Hawk of Battle), Gawain 
is mentioned in the Welsh Triads 
as one of the " golden-tongued 
knights of the court of King 
Arthur," and his powers of per- 
suasion are frequently alluded to 
in the Welsh Arthurian tales. In 
one triad he is spoken of as one 
of " the three learned ones of the 
island of Britain." Whereas the 
romance versions of the Arthurian 
tales represent Gawain as Arthur's 
nephew, Celtic tradition regards 
him as a son of the king. Gwalch- 
mai, like most of the knights of 
the Round Table, was probably a 



GAY 



form of hero-god, demi-god, or 
deity in course of deterioration, 
and having regard to his well- 
known attributes it does not 
appear to be straining probabilities 
unwontedly if we derive him from 
some Celtic deity having affinities 
"with that Ogmios mentioned by 
Eucian, who, though armed with 
the club and hon-sMn of Hercules, 
was yet the " exponent of per- 
suasive speech," drawing men 
after him by golden cords attached 
from his tongue to their ears — the 
prototype of the Irish Ogma (q.v.). 
Some authorities, however, de- 
scribe him as the Uneal successor of 
the sun. 

GAYFEROS. In Spanish romance 
he appears as a kinsman of Roland, 
and husband of Charlemagne's 
daughter Melisenda, who was 
carried ofi soon after their marriage 
as a Moorish captive to Saragossa. 
He set out in search of her, but after 
a fruitless seven years he returned 
to Paris. One day, on his return, 
as he played dice with the 
emperor's admiral, Charlemagne 
reproved him, saying, " Were you 
as ready to handle arms as <fice, 
you would go to the rescue of your 
wife." The insulted Gayferos, 
enraged at the emperor's taunt, 
and gathering from his speech the 
whereabouts of his wife, rushed ofi 
to Roland in search of horse and 
armour. The confused uncle was 
not prepared to hire his steed nor 
risk his worthy sword, but seeing 
his nephew half mad with rage 
he finally consented. Gayferos 
mounted the spirited horse and 
rode off in the direction of Sara- 
gossa. The journey was swiftly 
accomplished, and meeting no 
opposition at the gates of the 
]\foorish city, he rode straight to 
the house in which lay his captive 
wife. On seeing the apparently 



131 GEE 

strange knight coming toward her 
window, she appealed to him for 
help, and on his responding, and 
at the same time raising the vizor 
of his helmet, she was overjoyed 
to find that her deliverer was her 
husband. She straightway mounted 
the horse' and the pair set off 
toward the city gates. A Moor, 
who had watched the proceedings 
from a distance, gave the signal of 
alarm, soon to be followed by the 
pursuit of seven columns of horse- 
men. MeUsenda, recognizing the 
horse on which they rode to be 
Roland's, remembered that by 
loosening the girth, opening the 
breast-plate, and driving the spurs 
into its side, it would leap across 
any barrier, informed her husband 
of this, who hastily did as she 
directed, and drove the steed 
toward the waU, which it cleared 
with comparative ease. The Moors, 
who had hotly followed them, now 
gave up the chase and returned to 
the city. On went the rejoicing 
pair, who drawing near their 
destination were met by Monte- 
sinos their kinsman, who had 
journeyed forth to welcome them. 
Embracing each other, the party 
rode on to Paris, which the 
triumphant Don Gajrferos entered 
with the daughter of Charlemagne, 
who could no more reproach him 
as faint-hearted. ( Vide Lockhart's 
Spanish Ballads.) 

GEENA MAC LUGA. In Irish ro- 
mance, son of Luga and the 
warrior daughter of Finn (q.v.). 
He was nurtured by " Fair Mane," 
who had brought up many of the 
Fianna(g'.i).) to manhood. Arrived 1 
at warrior age, he made his cove- 
nant of fealty to Finn, who gave 
him the captaincy of a band. But 
Mac Luga proved slothful, selfish, 
boastful, and cruel. So at last the 
Flans under him, complaining to 



GEL 



132 



Firm, requested him to choose 
between themselves and Mac Luga, 
who was then questioned, but could 
not explain satisfactorily why the 
Fians refused him their allegiance. 
Then Finn taught him the Maxims 
of the Fianna. 

GELORWYDD. The " Gem of Bap- 
tism." (Vide "Gododin.") The 
enemy mocked him, for admin- 
istering extreme unction on the 
battle-field, with his own blood 
for oil. 

GENERYDES, THE METRICAL RO- 
MANCE OF. The question of 
authorship of the EngUsh version 
and the source of the story are 
obscure. We possess no clue as 
to the original ; but the present 
version, the MS. of which exists 
in the hbrary of Trinity College, 
Cambridge, is dated from about 
1440. The French version is more 
complete, but almost identical 
in substance. Auferius, King of 
India, marries Serenydes, daughter 
to the King of Africa. She proves 
unfaithful, and carries on an 
intrigue with her husband's 
steward, Sir Amelok. While hunt- 
ing one day, the king strays and 
meets with a maiden named 
Sereyne, the daughter of the King 
of Syria. On her he begets Gene- 
rydes. When old enough Gene- 
rydes appears at the court of 
Auferius, whose wife tempts him ; 
but declining to give way to her 
he courts the disfavour of Sir 
Amelok. This knight makes 
Generydes' Ufe so intolerable that 
he quits the court and proceeds 
to the city of Mountener, the capi- 
tal of Persia. He becomes attached 
to the court of the Sultan Goffore, 
and falls in love with his daughter 
Clarionas. Meanwhile, Sir Amelok 
rebels against and seizes Auferius' 
capital. The King of India goes to 
Syria ,meets once more with Sereyne, 



GEO 

and becomes king of that country. 
A son, Ismael, is bom to them. 
The Sultan of Persia turns against 
Generydes and accuses him of 
seducing his daughter Clarionas. 
The King of Egypt, Belen, invades 
the sultan's lands and demands 
the hand of Clarionas. The sultan 
prepares to defend his city against 
the invader and sets Generydes 
free. A terrific battle ensues 
between the rival leaders, in which 
fight, an innumerable host of kings 
are engaged. King Belen and 
Generydes meet in deadly combat. 
After prolonging the duel over 
several days, the King of Eg5rpt 
takes flight. Generydes recognizes 
his father, Auferius, and meets 
with his brother Ismael. Belen, 
King of Egypt, dies, and his son, 
Gwynan, succeeds him. The 
newly-appointed king attempts to 
carry off Clarionas, but Generydes 
frustrates the plot. A second 
attempt is successful. Generydes 
pursues Gwynan and gains access 
to his betrothed's chamber. They 
escape together, and Sir Yuell, 
knight to Gwynan, follows after 
them, but Generydes slays him. 
The lovers leave for Syria. Ame- 
lok, the treacherous steward, dies. 
Auferius falls sick and succumbs. 
Generydes ascends his father's 
throne as King of India, when he 
marries Clarionas. 



GEOFFREY OF MONMOUTH. Arch- 
deacon of Monmouth and later 
Bishop of St. Asaph, author of 
the famous Historia Begum Brit- 
tanice, dedicated to his patron 
Robert, Earl of Gloucester, which 
we know he had composed as 
early as 1139, although it is 
thought that he wrote a later 
revision of his history. In the 
Historia, Geoffrey undertook to 
relate the history of the Britons 
from the time of Brutus to the 



GEO 



133 



GER 



death of Cadwallader, the last of 
the native British Mngs. His 
material is divided into twelve 
books, of which five books are 
occupied with the Arthurian 
History. Geofirey lived at a 
period when England was respond- 
ing to the intellectual stimulus 
that had come to her with the 
Norman conquest, and when her 
Uterary hfe had begun to blossom 
afresh after a state of dormancy. 
This influence was due to the 
influx of the scholars, chroniclers, 
and minstrels who accompanied 
the Normans ia their conquest of 
Britain. The trend of the times 
caused the Normans to exercise a 
taste for hterature of a less 
fantastic and mysterious nature 
than formerly. Geoffrey was 
shrewd enough to perceive the 
direction of men's thoughts, and 
being possessed of high intelhgence 
and a mind distinctly inventive, 
was quick to exercise a great 
degree of enterprise. As a Latin 
scholar his style clearly shows his 
mastery over the language. Geof- 
rey was a most skilful combiner 
of romance and history, and we 
see how in his book he raised a 
national hero, already the centre 
of legend and myth, to the position 
of a monarch, whose legends, by 
substituting in them Norman cus- 
toms for British, became a power- 
ful factor in the Normanizing of 
England. Above all, he raised 
the standard of hterature, dignify- 
ing popular national story, and 
determining definitely the form of 
Arthurian legend. ( Vide ' ' Historia 
Regum Britannise.") 

GEORGE A GREEN. A pound-keeper 
of Wakefield, who resisted Robin 
Hood, Will Scarlet, and Little 
John single-handed when they 
attempted to trespass on land near 
Wakefield. He is often alluded 



to as a type of resolute-minded- 
ness, a man who would do his 
duty come what may. 

GEORGE A GREEN, THE HISTORY 

OF. A prose romance, probably 
of Ehzabethan origin, dealing with 
the Ufe and adventures of George 
a Green, pinder or constable of 
Wakefield, and the supposed rival 
and later the friend of Robin Hood. 
His exploits against the rebel Earl 
of Kendal and Lord Bonvile, and 
their discomfiture are first related, 
after which his meeting and strife 
with Robin Hood and his merry 
men and the rivalry in beauty of 
their respective mistresses. Maid 
Marian and Beatrice, is told in 
spirited fashion, as is the story of 
the riot of shoemakers in Merry 
Bradstead, and the coming of 
King Richard CcBur de Lion to 
that town. The tale ends with 
the marriage of Beatrice and the 
lusty pinder. 

GERARD OF COMMARCHIS. (Cycle 
of William of Orange.) A knight 
who bore a message from Vivian 
to his uncle Wilham of Orange, 
craving succour. Guichard, 
younger brother of Vivian, and 
nephew of Wilham of Orange 
(q.v.), when his brother was hard 
pressed by the Saracens at Alis- 
cans, though only fifteen years 
of age, cut his way to the front to 
succour him. (Vide "Enfances 
Vivian.") 

GERARD OF ROUSSILLION. A sub- 
cycle of the Charlemagne cycle, 
written in two texts, one Proven9al 
of the thirteenth century, the other 
in Frenchified Proven9al of the 
twelfth. Both are imperfect, the 
latter, which is in the Harleian 
collection of the British Museum, 
especially so. According to many 
authors of the twelfth and thir- 
teenth centuries, they were very 



GER 



134 



popular, as is attested by the fre- 
quent repetitions which fill their 
pages. The story recounts how 
Gerard is for sixty years at war 
with Charles Martel, but is con- 
stantly worsted. The poem is 
wearisome in the extreme, the 
many fights and combats being 
merely repetitions of each other, 
but the most interesting portion is 
that which describes Gerard's 
wanderings with his wife after his 
final defeat — ^perhaps a modem 
interpolation. It is probable that 
we do not possess the original 
conclusion of the story, as we 
find the countess rather tamely 
taking to good works, and so 
influencing her husband that he re- 
solved to do likewise. Vide edition 
by Mr. Francisque Michel, 1837. 

GERARD OF VIANA. One of the 

latest poems of the Charlemagne 
cycle, referred to the thirteenth 
century. It is written in penta- 
meter tirades with a short line 
at the end of each, a fact which 
marks it as being still sung at the 
date at which it was reduced to 
writing. It forms part (viewed 
in a different relation) of the cycle 
of the kinship of Aymery. Its 
subject is the struggle of Gerard 
of Viana (Vienne), Aymery's father 
against the Emperor Charles, and 
it also embraces the stories of 
the early rivalry of Roland and 
Oliver, and the cementing of their 
friendship. Charles had sworn 
that he would not rise from before 
Viana ufatil he had taken it. 
Roland whilst hawking sees a 
mallard under the walls of the 
town and lets fly his hawk, which 
loses itself in an orchard. Oliver, 
nephew of Gerard, seizes the bird, 
and Roland calls to him to give it 
back, oSering him fifteen pounds 
weight of pure gold for its return. 
Oliver refuses, and Roland spurs 



GER 

his steed into the moat, crosses it 
into the orchard, and seizii^ 
Oliver's horse by the reins asks 
who he is. They exchange names 
and lineage, and defy each other. 
Ohver is knighted by Gerard. 
At verse 323 a new branch begins, 
in which the early prowess of 
Oliver is related. For seven years 
Charles sits before Viana. Roland, 
wearying of the siege, asks him to 
proclaim a quintain. OUver re- 
solves to take part in it, and his 
fair sister Alda expresses a wish 
to see the game. Oliver strikes a 
blow so wonderful that Charles 
and the Franks are surprised. 
Seeing ten men approach him, 
OUver fears an attack, and kiUs 
three of them. The men of Viana 
join in the skirmish. Roland, 
seeing Alda, is smitten with love 
for her, forgets his purpose of 
jousting with Ohver, and attempts 
to carry her ofi. Ohver comes to 
the rescue, and they break lances. 
Ohver stuns Roland with a blow 
on the head, and rescues Alda. 
He next unhorses a knight called 
Lambert, who is taken prisoner to 
Viana, and falls in love with Alda. 
But he is sent back to the Frankish 
Hues. Ohver returns with him, 
and is courteously received. He 
suggests a peace to King Charles, 
but the latter's terms are so 
mortifying that OUver indignantly 
scouts them. Roland enters the 
royal tent, and Ohver challenges 
him to combat alone on the island 
under Viana. He accepts the 
challenge on the terms that if 
Roland be conquered Charlemagne 
will depart, but if OUver, then 
Gerard shaU cede Viana. A " felon 
knight " suggests the murder of 
OUver, who, on hearing this, 
rushes at him and breaks his neck. 
Being hustled in consequence by 
the imperial knights, OUver seizes 
a stake, and lays about him to such 



GER 



135 



GES 



purpose that he slays a number of 
them. He mounts his steed and 
returns to Viana. Roland has 
speech with Alda from the walls, 
and they exchange mutual expres- 
sions of regard. Roland and Oliver 
fight on the morrow, and, Ohver's 
weapons being inferior, he is 
worsted, but he obtains a new 
sword (Haultclear) from Viana, 
and the combat is resumed. They 
engage desperately, until an angel 
comes between them and bids 
them cease, telUng them that they 
should reserve their prowess for 
the paynim. They pledge their 
love, and become fast friends. 
Charles, caught in an ambush, 
whilst hunting, by Gerard's men, 
grants peace, renders back Gerard's 
honours, and celebrates the be- 
trothal of Roland and Alda. A 
Saracen incursion into Gascony is 
intimated, and the poem ends with 
a hint of the death of Roland. 
( Vide Girard de Viane, ed P. Tarbe, 
Reims, 1850.) 

GERLINTE. Queen of Ormany, wife 
of King Ludwig. Mother of Hart- 
mut and Ortrun. (Vide" Gudmn 
Lay" and " Gudrun.") She is 
depicted as an " evil deviless " 
who, determined that her son shall 
win Gudrun for his wife, treats her 
with the greatest harshness and 
cruelty in a vain endeavour to 
break her spirit. On the storming 
of CassiancitybyHerwig's rescuing 
army she tries to have Gudrun 
slain, but later has to beg for- 
giveness and protection. Gudrun's 
attempt to save her is vain, and 
she is slain by the fierce Wate 
(q.v.). 

GERNOT. ( Vide " Neibelungenlied.") 
Son of Ute, and brother to 
Kriemhild, Gunther, and Giselher. 
He disclaimed having any hand in 
the death of Siegfried. 



GEROLD. A clerk alluded to by 
Orderious Vitahs (1075-1141) as 
dwelling at the court of William 
the Conqueror, and singing of " the 
holy athlete WiUiam " (of Orange). 

GESTA ROMANORUM. A collection 
of mediaeval tales designed to 
assist preachers to rouse languid 
hearers, and to infuse matter of 
interest into their discourses. The 
Franciscans and Dominicans, in 
carrying their doctrine to the 
poor, may have improved the art 
of illustrating homily with legend 
and story. The French Domini- 
can, Vincent of Beauvais, tells in 
the Mirror of History that in his 
time, the thirteenth century, 
preachers were wont to stimulate 
the attention of their audiences 
by means of tales from MaoTp and 
other profane authors. Among 
the Harleian MSS. is an ancient 
collection of 215 stories compiled 
by a preacher for the use of 
monastic societies. The compila- 
tion known as the Oesfa Boman- 
orum long retained its popularity, 
and was printed in 1473. Re- 
printed a few months later at 
Louvain, and again in 1480, it 
was translated into Dutch in 
1484, and went through several 
editions in this country in the 
succeeding century. When and 
by whom the collection was made 
is unknown. Warton thought 
Bercheur of Poitou to be the 
compiler because of a passage in 
the Phihlogia Sacra of Salomon 
Glassius. The work varies by 
omission of tales and addition of 
others in different MSS., and its 
title " Deeds of the Romans " is a 
merely arbitrary one, although 
many of the tales deal with inci- 
dents in the lives of the various 
Roman emperors. Tales from the 
East were borrowed from the 
Qericus Disciplina , a Latin dialogue 



GIB 

professedly borrowed from the 
Arabian fabulists, and items from 
an old Latin translation of the 
Arabian Calilah u Damnah were 
also utilized in its compilation. 
The Gesta Romanorum contains 
the germ of the romance of Sir 
Guy of Warwick (q.v.), and that 
of Gower's Confessio Amantis, and 
several of Chaucer's tales. Trans- 
lation by C. Swan. 

GIBICH. King of Worms. (Vide 
" Dietrich of Bern.") 

GILBERT (1), SIR. The Bastard. In 
Arthurian romance a noble knight, 
eventually slain by Sir Mehot de 
Logres {q.v.). 

GILBERT (2). In the WiUiam of Orange 
cycle, son of Duke Guy of Ardane, 
who had been captive in the 
Saracen city of Orange for three 
years. He escapes therefrom, and 
his praise of the city so fires the 
heart of WiUiam that he resolves 
to go thither on a secret journey. 
He is guided there by Gilbert, 
who spoke " enough Turkish and 
African, Bedouin and Basque, to 
be interpreter." 

GILLA DACAR. (The Hard Gilly.) 
A monarch of the Celtic other 
world or Land of Faery, who figures 
in one of the legends connected 
with the Irish romance of Dermot 
iq.v.). He required warriors to 
fight against a rival king, and by 
a clever artifice decoyed several of 
the Fianna into his realm. Taking 
the shape of a deformed churl 
dragging after him a raw-boned 
mare, he induced fourteen of the 
Fianns to mount the animal, which 
speedily disappeared, carrying off 
the heroes. Finn and the remain- 
ing Fianna took ship in search of 
their companions, and, after many 
adventures, discerned them in 
Faeryland. The tale concludes 
with the marriage of Firm with 



136 GIR 

Tasha of the White Arms, daughter 
of the Faery King, and the return 
to Ireland of the Fianna. Gilla 
Dacar is unquestionably one of 
those Plutonic figures of the Celtic 
otherworld, who, in their desire to 
decoy and retain mortals in their 
misty realm, exhibit the veritable 
characteristics of death-gods who 
have sunk from their original 
states as such to that of mere 
monarchs of faery. 

GILVAETHWY. In Welsh legend, 
son of Don {q.v.), nephew of Math 
{q.v.). He fell violently in love 
with Goewin {q.v.), his uncle's 
footholder. So in order to obtain 
her, with the aid of Gwydion 
{q.v.), his magician brother, he 
brought about war with Pryderi 
{q.v.) and Math, on account of the 
theft of the former's swine. Then 
when his uncle was engaged in the 
fight, he stole back to the palace, 
and forcibly made Goewin his 
wife. For this treachery the 
brothers were turned into deer for 
a year and a day, for the same 
period into wild swine, and lastly 
into wolves, after which they were 
allowed to assume their human 
forms and natures. 

GIRALDUS CAMBRENSIS. A Welsh 
ecclesiastic of the twelfth century, 
whose writings, all of them in 
Latin, include sundry books of a 
topographical order which are of 
importance to students of romance. 
Widely known during his Ufetime 
as Sylvester, a sovhriquet given him 
by some of his enemies, his name 
was really Gerald de Bain ; but 
hke the majority of mediaeval 
authors, he Latinized it, and it is 
by his nom de plume of Giraldus 
Cambrensis that he is invariably 
known. He is supposed to have 
been bom about 1146, and his 
father was one WiUiam de Bain, 
while on his mother's side he was 



GIS 



137 



lineally descended from Rhys-ap- 
Theodor, Prince of South Wales. 
As a child he showed exceptional 
aptitude for scholarship, and while 
still a mere boy he wrote Latin 
poems, which prove his early 
familiarity with Latin Uterature. 
After travelling on the Continent, 
he returned to England in 1172, 
and decided to take holy orders ; 
and, having been duly ordained, 
he was appointed to secure pay- 
ments of tithes in Wales. In 
1176, on the death of his uncle, 
the Bishop of St. David's, the 
Welsh clergy manifested great 
eagerness to make the deceased's 
prelate's see independent of Canter- 
bury, and the canons nominated 
Giraldus for the vacant post. 
But the Mng, Henry II., strenu- 
ously opposed this measure, for 
pohtical motives. Much disgusted, 
Giraldus left his native land for a 
while, and went to Paris, where he 
continued his theological studies. 
He even pushed so far afield as 
Bologna, but by 1180 he was on 
his way back, and on reaching 
England he went first to Canter- 
bury, where he was entertained 
by the archbishop. Thereafter 
he proceeded to Wales, and was 
appointed commissary to the 
Bishop of St. David's, but being 
shocked by the misrule of the 
latter he soon gave up the charge, 
and in 1184 he became a chaplain 
to Henry II. The king sent him 
to accompany his son John on 
his expedition to Ireland. He 
was offered the bishopric of Wex- 
ford and Leighhn, and apparently 
at a later time the see of Ossory ; 
but he declined them aU, and con- 
cerned himself instead with the 
composition of his book, Itinera- 
rium Hibernice. This was dedi- 
cated to Henry II., and it gives 
an invaluable account of the 
existing condition of the country, 



GIR 

while along with matter of this 
sort are mixed many Irish stories. 
Giraldus left Ireland in 1186, and 
two years later the king, having 
decided to make a Crusade, sent 
him and Archbishop Baldwin to 
preach on its behalf in Wales. He 
was given an enthusiastic recep- 
tion, as he teUs in his Itinerarium 
Canibrice (1191), a book which has 
the same value as his work on 
Ireland. The English forces now 
set out for Palestine, and with 
them went Giraldus along with 
Baldwin, who intended the former 
to write a history of the forth- 
coming Crusade ; but on the 
death of the king Giraldus was 
sent back to Wales to try to quiet 
the unrest there, and so he had 
perforce to obtain absolution from 
the crusading vow he had taken 
previously. Giraldus now de- 
clared himself desirous of further 
theological study, but it was 
impossible for him to go to Paris 
again, the Enghsh having mean- 
while declared war with the 
French ; and so he went instead 
to Lincoln, and there he lived 
quietly for several years, accom- 
plishing among other things the 
writing of his Oemna Ecclesiastica. 
In 1189 he was created Bishop of 
St. David's, but he did not hold 
the see long, in spite of two appeals 
to the Pope made in person at 
Rome. This ended Giraldus' 
career in the Church, though he 
became reconciled with the king 
and the Archbishop of Canterbury. 
The date of his death is uncertain, 
but it was probably 1220, and is 
supposed to have occurred in 
London. 

Literature : Besides his books 
on Ireland and Wales, Giraldus 
wrote a life of St. Hugh of Lincoln, 
and also one of St. David ; while 
other notable things from his pen 
are Expugnatio Hibernica and De 



6IR 



138 



GOD 



Rebus a se Geatia. A complete 
edition of his works was published 
in the Eolls Series (1861-77) 
under the editorship of J. S. 
Brown and J. P. Winock, and 
the preface contributed by the 
former should be consulted. ( Vide 
Warton's Anglia Sacra, which has 
a chronology of Giraldus' life, and 
consult the biography of Sir R. C. 
Hoare, prefaced to his translation 
of Itinerarium Cambrim, 1806.) 

GIRARD OF LIEGE. {Vide "Garin 
the Lorrainer.") Nephew of Garin 
and Bego. He fought on all 
occasions for the Lorrainers. 

GISELHER. ( Vide "NibelungenUed.") 
Brother to Gunther, Gemot, and 
Kriemhild, He became attached 
to Siegfried, after whose death, 
he successfully prevailed upon his 
sister to remain at the court of 
Ute, their mother. 

GISLI. {Vide " Grettir Saga.") A 
braggart and fop, who was severely 
thrashed by Grettir. 

GIUKI, KING. (" Vide Volsungs.") 
Husband to Grimhild {q.v.), and 
father of the three sons, Gunnar 
(q.v.), Hogni {q.v.), and Guttorm 
(q.v.), and of a daughter Gudrun 
{q.v.). He met his death through 
the treachery of AtU. 

GLAM. (F»(Ze" Grettir Saga.") An 
uncouth shepherd, who for a time 
tended Thorhall's {q.v.) flocks. 
But he too, like former shepherds 
upon the haunted farm, was 
missed one winter night, and 
never returned alive. His evil 
spirit, however, terrorized the 
people in winter and slaughtered 
both men and animals, until he 
was mastered by Grettir. But 
his dreadful grey eyes haunted 
the hero in the dark, and made 
it impossible for him to dwell 
alone, thus leading ultimately to 
his death. 



GLISTENING HEATH. {Vide " Vol- 
sungs.") The retreat where the 
Dragon Fafnir {q.v.) dwelt. 

GLORIANDA. In Carlovingian ro- 
mance, the daughter of the Saracen 
emir Corsuble, and the betrothed 
of Karaheut, King of India {q.v.). 
{Vide "Ogier the Dane.") 

GLORIETTA. A wonderful marble 
tower in the city of Orange {vide 
"Prise d'Orange"). WiUiam of 
Orange was shut up in it, besieged 
by thousands of Saracens, but 
held his own, succoured by 
Orable, Queen of Orange {q.vl), 
who succeeded in effecting his 
escape, and whom he afterwards 
married. The pillars were of 
marble, the windows carved in 
silver, and a golden eagle Ut the 
whole. A wondrous spice-bearing 
tree perfumed the place. 

GOBAN THE SMITH. In Irish ro- 
mance, brother of Kian and Sawan, 
He corresponds to Weyland Smith 
in Germanic legend. He was re- 
garded as the founder, in Ireland, 
of artistry and handicraft. The 
legends in which he figures, occur 
in the Irish invasion myths. 

GODELBOG. (7»"(^e "Gododin.") A 
Cymric chief. Slain at the Battle 
of Cattraeth, carried to the grave 
by his sons. 

GODFREY, DUKE OF DENMARK. In 

Carlovingian romance, father of 
Ogier the Dane. He left his son 
as a hostage with Charlemagne. 
He sent back messengers from 
that monarch with shaven faces 
and tonsured crowns, wherefore 
the emperor resolved to hang his 
son Ogier {q.v.). 

GODFREY OF BOUILLON. {Vide 
" Jerusalem Delivered.") 

GODILAKE, SIR. A knight, alluded 
to in Arthurian romance, who 



GOD 



139 



frequented the tourneys of Arthur's 
court. {Vide " Morte d' Arthur.") 

GODODIN, THE. An early Welsh 
poem, said to be written by Aneu- 
rin, giving an account of a battle 
fought at Gododin, and praising 
the C3rmric chiefs who distin- 
guished themselves. Owen, son 
of Urien, is the first hero whose 
fame is sung by the poet, although 
under the name of the " only son 
of Marro." " He was a man in 
mind, in years a youth, and 
gallant in the din of war." His 
armour and dress are described, 
and the manner of his fighting. 
" No quarter would he give to 
those whom he pursued : nor 
would he retreat from the com- 
bat until blood flowed ; and he 
cut down like rushes the men who 
would not yield." He was evi- 
dently slain in battle. " Alas, 
Owain ! my beloved friend ; It 
is not meet that he should be 
devoured by ravens ! " The 
Angles invaded Gododin and the 
Cymry were fighting to regain 
some of their territory. Cattraeth 
(probably Gatterick in Yorkshire) 
was the scene of battle. " The 
heroes marched to Cattraeth, lo- 
quacious was the host . . . and 
after the joyful cry, silence ensued ! 
They should have gone to churches 
to perform penance ; the inevit- 
able strife of death was about to 
pierce them . ' ' Manawyd who came 
from the coast of Mordei, and the 
son of IsgjTan, and Hyveidd Hir, 
are among these heroes. Hyveidd 
Hir came from Glamorgan and 
swept down five battalions of 
Deivyr and Bryneich (Durham 
and Northumberland). He him- 
self was wounded. " He had not 
raised the spear ere his blood 
streamed to the ground." Gray, 
in his Ode from the Welsh The 
Death of Hoel, has given a 



GOD 

different interpretation to the 
death of the son of the bard 
Kian who had married a daughter 
of a Gododin chief. The heroes 
marched to Cattraeth with the 
dawn ; their peace was disturbed 
by those who feared them ; a 
hundred thousand with three hun- 
dred engaged in mutual over- 
throw ; drenched in gore, they 
marked the fall of the lances ; the 
post of war was most manfully 
and with gallantry maintained. 
Before the retLuue of Mynyddawg 
" the Courteous," Gelorwydd, 
the " Gem of Baptism," had ex- 
treme unction given him, his own 
blood being substituted for the oil. 
Tudvwich, a Strathclyde Briton, 
slaughtered the Saxons for seven 
days, and became their prisoner 
in the end. Erthal and Godebog 
were there, Tudvwich and Cyvwlch 
the Tall, Gwarthleo and Gwruel- 
ing were all slain. There were 
three chiefs of the Novantae 
(people of Wigtown, Kirkcud- 
bright and Ayr), with five batta- 
lions of 500 men each, three levies 
each of three hundred knights 
from Eiddin (perhaps Edinburgh), 
three chiefs from Breitan, on the 
shores ^of the Clyde, and three 
from Aeron (probably Ayr). 
These were the confederate Cym- 
ric tribes whose chiefs crossed the 
Solway or marched through 
Strathclyde to Cumberland. Only 
three of these brave warriors 
escaped death. " But there 
escaped by valour from the funeral 
fosse, the two war-dogs of Aeron, 
and Cynon the dauntless, and my- 
self, from the spilling of blood, 
the reward of my pure song. As 
translated by Gray in The Death 
of Hoel — 

" To Cattraeth's vale in glittering row 
Twice two hundred warriors go ; 

But none from Cattraeth's vale return, 



GOD 140 

Save Aeron brave, and Conan strong 
(Bursting through the bloody throng). 
And I, the meanest of them all, 
That live to weep, and sing their fall." 



GOL 



Graid, the son of Hoewgi, Bud- 
dvan, Gwenabwy, Marchten, and 
the son of Gwddnen, all mighty 
warriors. " Not one to his native 
home returned." Gwlyget, an 
Ododin chief, was slain at Cat- 
traeth, and Morien was killed by|a 
stone as he was attacking the 
place, but it was taken. The 
Cymry sent their chief counsellor, 
a very old man riding a piebald 
steed and wearing a gold chain, to 
meet a dwarf messenger sent by 
the Saxons, who proposed a com- 
pact, but the Cymry would not 
agree. " Let heaven be our pro- 
tection. Let his compact be death 
by the spear in battle." Even 
some of the women of the Cymry 
fought in this awful struggle. 
" Equal to three men, though a 
maid, was Bradwin. ... In the 
engagement of wrath and carnage, 
Bradwin perished, she did not 
escape." The men of Cymry were 
defeated, and were forced to come 
to an agreement. The poem then 
relates the demands made on the 
Cymry, how the Saxon heralds 
stabbed a friend of Aneurin, and 
the revenge the Cymry took on 
the traitor. A battle was fought 
near the river Swale : "at early 
dawn there was a battle at the 
confluence of river 9 " and the 
dwarf herald was killed. The 
poet then eulogizes the chiefs 
that were slain, the last being 
Morien and Gwenabwy. " Pain 
would I sing, ' Would that Morien 
had not died.' I sigh for Gwena- 
bwy, the son of Gwen." The 
Oododin thus ends with a lament. 
All, save a few of the heroes who 
fought so bravely, were slaughtered 
on the field of battle. 



GOEWIN. In Welsh romance, 
daughter of Pebin. {Vide "Gil- 
vaethwy.") 

GOLDEMAR. A fragmentary poem 
written by Albrecht von Kemena- 
ten in the thirteenth century, and 
connected with the Dietrich of 
Bern Saga-cycle {q.v.). 

GOLEUDDYD. In British Celtic 
legend, wife of Kilydd ; mother 
of Kulhwch (q.v.). 

GOLL MAC MORNA. In Irish ro- 
mance. Captain of the Fianna 
(q.v.). He was the first to swear 
service to the young Finn, whom 
he rescued later from the en- 
chanted cave of Conaran. For 
this service Keva of the White 
Skin, his chief's daughter, was 
bestowed upon him in marriage. 
Goll appears in the Irish Ossianic 
cycle. 

GOLOGROS AND GAWANE, THE 
KNIGHTLY TALE OF. An Arthu- 
rian poem. It is manifestly by a 
Scotsman, but the author's iden- 
tity is uncertain, though both 
Huehown of the Awle Ryle and 
Clerk of Tranent have been sug- 
gested. The ascription in the 
latter case rests on a statement 
made by Dunbar, in his Lament 
for the Makaris — 

" Clerk of Tranent eik he is tano 
That made the anteris of Sir Gwane," 

but the historian Andrew of Wyn- 
ton speaks of Huehown as having 

" Made the gret Gest of Arthure 
And the Awntyrs of Gawane " ; 

and, as WjTiton Uved fully a 
century before Dunbar, his testi- 
mony in a matter of this sort 
naturally carries greater weight. 
Sir Frederic Madden held that 
the tale was largely derived from 
the Perceval of Chrestien de Troyes, 
but though his contention is 
primd facie tenable, it is more 



GON 

likely that the author, as Sir 
Walter Scott asserts, drew his 
material from legendary lore cur- 
rent in Scotland in his day. 
Moreover, it is fairly evident that 
Gologros and Gawane is no mere 
translation ; for it is written 
throughout in stanzas of thirteen 
lines each, intricately rhymed and 
fuU of alliteration, and it is im- 
probable that a translator would 
have used so elaborate a vehicle as 
this. The poem carries Arthur 
and some of his knights through 
many adventures in different lands, 
but the most important scene is 
laid in France, where Sir Gologros, 
a knight of marvellous prowess 
who dwells by the Ehone, van- 
quishes Gawane in single com- 
bat and compels him to pay 
obeisance to Arthur. Leyden tells 
that Gologros was a very popular 
hero in mediaeval Scotland, and 
the mere fact that the poem was 
among those pubUshed by the 
earhest Scottish printers, Chepman 
and MyUar, during the reign of 
James IV., goes far to show that 
it was widely admired at that 
time. The reader will find it in a 
volume of Ancient Poems, 1807, 
where it is given verbatim from 
Chepman and Myllar's edition, 
even the old black-letter type 
being reproduced, as also is the 
quaint trade-mark of the fathers 
of Scottish typography. {Vide 
articles " Huchown," and " Awn- 
tyrs of Arthur.") 

GONE MANS or GONE M ANT. Of Gel- 
bort. Knight, in Grail romance. 
He takes Sir Percival into his 
castle, and teaches him the use of 
arms, and all knightly exercises. 
He counsels Sir Perceval to avoid 
over-readiness in speech and in 
asking questions and to cease from 
the habit of always " quoting 
his mother's counsels." He is the 



141 GOT 

uncle, too, of the " damsel of 
surpassing beauty," Blanchefleur 
iq.v.), whom Sir Perceval after- 
wards defends against the en- 
croachments of King Clamadex 
{q.v.). 

GOON DESERT. A monarch alluded 
to in the Conte del Graal. He is 
father of the maid who bears the 
Grail dish. He was also brother 
to the Fisher King, and dwelt 
in Quiquagrant. He was slain by 
a nephew of Espinogre, whom he 
had killed in a most treacherous 
manner. His body was brought 
to the Fisher King's castle, whither 
came, too, his daughter with the 
sword which had slain Goon 
Desert. She prophesied that a 
knight should come who would 
join the fragments of the sword, 
and revenge the foul murder of 
her father. The Fisher King, 
taking up the fragments incau- 
tiously, was pierced through the 
thigh, and the wound might not 
heal until his brother's death was 
avenged. 

GORIAS. In Irish romance, one of 
the four cities from which came 
the four treasures of the Danaans 
{q.v.). The invincible sword of 
Lugh of the Long Arm {q.v.) came 
from Gorias. 

GOTELIND. {Vide "Nibelungenlied.") 
Wife of Rudiger, Margrave of 
Bechlam. Mother of Diethnde. 
On Kriemhild's {q.v.) journey to 
wed Etzel {q.v.), she is received 
with much affection by Gotelind 
and Dietlinde at Rudiger's Castle 
of Bechlam. Gotehnd also joins 
her husband in showing unstinted 
kindness and hospitality to Gunther 
and his retinue on the way to 
Etzel's court, giving Hagen {q.v.), 
as his choice, his famous shield 
which had belonged to her father, 
Nodung. 



GOT 

GOTTFRIED VON STRASSBDRG. A 

German poet of burgher rank, 
who flourished about the begin- 
ning of the thirteenth century. 
His principal title to fame is his 
work Tristan und Isolt, the mate- 
rial for which he probably took 
from an older French version of 
the legend. It is undoubtedly the 
finest of all the Tristan romances 
from a literary point of view, but 
in depths of thought is inferior 
to the Parzival of Wolfram von 
Eschenbach. Gottfried, from 
the materials at his command, 
created in the most original vein 
a picture of human passion all- 
devouring and consuming, yet 
painted with much naivete. His 
style is at once perspicuous and 
melodious, and is happily free 
from the wearisome digressions 
in which the hterature of his age 
abounds. "He may be con- 
sidered as the forerunner of that 
appetite for worldly and physical 
enjoyment, for material advance- 
ment and possession which in the 
fourteenth and fifteenth centuries 
caused Europe to degenerate into 
mere animahsm, hypocrisy and 
disbehef." Gottfried left his work 
unfinished. Concerning his private 
life practically nothing is known. 
No poet of the thirteenth century 
was so widely imitated by his 
own and succeeding generations 
as Gottfried. Ulrich von Turheim 
and Heinrich von Frieburg both es- 
sayed continuations of Tristan und 
Isolt. The fib:'st is brief. The latter 
displays considerable literary skill, 
but is inferior to the original. {Vide 
" Tristan and Isolt.") 

GOUVERNAIL, SIR. Mentioned in 
Arthurian romance as tutor to Sir 
Tristram (q.v.). {Vide "Morte 
d'Arthur.") 

GOWRA. In Irish romance the 
death-field of Oscar (q.v.), and 



142 GRA 

his opponent, Cairbry, King of 
Ireland. 

GOWTHER, SIR. An Arthurian ro- 
mance, the hero of which is the 
son of a fiendish knight and a 
gentle lady whom he had betrayed. 
The boy, as was predicted, proved 
to be of a most savage tempera- 
ment, until the offending spirit 
was whipped out of him by means 
of self-inflicted penance. He then 
wins the love of an earl's daughter 
by glorious achievement in the 
lists, and piously builds an abbey 
to commemorate his conversion. 

GRADASSO. {Vide " Orlando Inna- 
morato," and " Orlando Furioso.") 
King of Sericane, attempted the 
enchanted castle of Atlantes, but 
was made prisoner. He was after- 
wards liberated by Bradamant. 
He fought with Rinaldo, but the 
duel was broken off. He was 
killed by Orlando. 

GRAELENT, THE LAY OF. A tale 
of Brittany, a lai by Marie de 
France {q.v.). The lai is practi- 
cally the same as that of Sir 
Launfal {q.v.). The Knight Grae- 
lent won great praise in the service 
of his lord, the King of Brittany, 
and his renown fired the heart of 
;the queen. She prayed him to re- 
turn her love, but loyal knight 
that he was, he gently refused. 
Her love then was turned to hatred. 
Impoverished and sad, he went 
riding one day by himself through 
a wood. Here he espied a milk- 
white hart unsurpassed in beauty, 
and started in her chase. Follow- 
ing hard upon the creature, he 
came to an open lawn in the centre 
of which stood a fountain. Herein 
a wonderfully beautiful maiden 
was bathing. After some parlance 
they pledged their loves, and the 
lady henceforth supplied him with 
whatever he might wish and gave 
him her company to his heart's 



GRA 



content. This good fortune at- 
tended him until he forgot his 
promise — ^never to let man know 
of her existence. At a feast the 
king bade his wife stand upon the 
dais, and challenged all present to 
show him her superior in beauty. 
In an unlucky moment Graelent, 
who was of the company, boasted 
of his lady-love. Right wrathful 
were both king and queen, and the 
hapless knight was seized and im- 
prisoned for a year. At the end 
of that period he was permitted 
freedom to seek this surpassing 
beauty, but he failed to bring her. 
The Mng then sat in hasty judg- 
ment upon him, when a page de- 
sired the court to suspend sen- 
tence, as two beautiful damsels 
were riding thither, perhaps to 
the knight's succour. These were 
followed by two more beautiful 
than they ; and finally their 
mistress rode into the court. This 
was the boasted beauty, and 
Graelent was set free. Then his 
lady-love rode away, while her 
lover followed hard upon her track. 
At last they came to a river into 
which the maiden rode, forbidding 
her knight to follow. But so 
mighty was his love that he heeded 
not her words, plunged after her, 
and came near to drowning. 
Having rescued her knight, the 
lady once more leapt into the river 
and once again did Graelent 
follow her. This time he had 
surely drowned but for the be- 
seeclungs of her maidens. At 
last both lady and knight rode off 
into fairyland, whence no one 
witnessed their return ; while the 
noble steed the maiden had sent 
to Graelent sought yearly with 
loud neighings through the forest 
for his lost master. 

GRAID. {Vide " Gododin.") Son 
of Hoewgi. A Cymric warrior, 



143 GRA 

slain at the Battle of Cattraeth. 
" Motionless is the sword of Graid." 



GRAIL, THE HOLY. A section of the 
Arthurian cycle of romance (q.v.), 
of late origin, which embodies a 
number of tales dealing with the 
search for a certain vessel of great 
sanctity , called the Grail. 

It is considered with some 
reason that these tales originated 
in early mediaeval legends of the 
quest for taUsmans which con- 
ferred great boons upon the finder, 
as, for example, the shoes of 
swiftness, the cloak of invisibiUty, 
and so forth, and that these 
stories were interpreted in the 
hght and spirit of mediaeval 
Christianity and mysticism. The 
Grail romances were divided by 
the late Alfred Nutt into two 
classes : (1) those which are con- 
nected with the quest for certain 
talismans of which the Grail is 
only one, and which deals with 
the personality of the hero who 
achieves the quest ; (2) those 
which deal with the nature and 
history of those tahsmans. The 
first he designated " The Quest," 
the second " The Early History 
Versions." In the first class we 
find a mass of poetic matter known 
as the Conte del Graal, consisting 
of some 60,000 verses. This ma- 
terial was composed between 1180 
and 1240. That part of it between 
verses 1283 and 10,601 is the work 
of Chretien de Troyes, a celebrated 
French poet of the twelfth century, 
who died about 1182. He states 
that the source of his poetical 
narration was a book presented to 
him by a Count Phihp of Flanders, 
who was Regent of France in 1180 
-81, and who perished in the 
Crusades. Several continuations 
of Chretien's work exist, the dates 
of which may be placed between 
1190 and 1240. The material 



GRA 

of these, which amounts to some 
50,000 Hnes, deals with the origin 
and history of the Grail. Its 
nature is also described. Wol- 
fram von Eschenbach (q.v.), who 
probably took his account from 
a lost French source, by one Kyot 
or Guyot, alludes to the Grail as a 
stone, and enumerates in connec- 
tion with it a sword and lance. 
The Welsh romance of Peredur, 
speaks of the GraU as a head in a 
salver, and mentions a lance. In 
other accounts the Grail is con- 
nected with the restoration to 
health of certain relatives of the 
questing hero. Wolfram, regard- 
ing loss of health as due to sin, 
shows how the sin-suffering on the 
part of the kinsmen is dissipated 
by the spiritual insight of the 
questing hero, whose sympathies 
are heightened and quickened, 
thus enabhng him to cure his re- 
lative. The scene of all these 
versions is laid in Britain, and 
the dramatis personce discovered 
in them are whoUy British, with 
the exception of Wolfram von 
Eschenbach's version, where Bre- 
ton and Angevin characters are 
found. Coming to the accounts 
in the Conte del Graal which deal 
with the nature and origin of the 
Grail, we find that all these sub- 
stantially agree that the Grail is 
the vessel of the Last Supper, in 
which Joseph of Arimathea caught 
the blood of Cihrist as He hung 
upon the Cross, and the Grail 
lance that with which the Saviour 
was pierced. Joseph came to 
Britain with Veronica, sister of 
Nicodemus. Becoming an-hun- 
gered, he prayed for the Grail. It 
appearedin answer to the summons, 
and all with Joseph had meat, 
bread, and wine in abundance. 
On Joseph's decease the Grail 
descended to his family, from 
whom sprang the father of Perce- 



144 GRA 

val. The accounts which deal 
with this aspect of the GraU 
legend are obviously the latest 
portion of the Conte del Graal. It ' 
is probable that the Conte pos- 
sesses elements of both Christian 
and non-Christian origin, the first 
of which are possibly to be found 
in the prose romance called the 
Grand St. Graal (c. 1200?) and 
the Joseph of Arimathea and 
Merlin of Robert de Borron, 
written between 1170 and 1212. 
The Grail legend has been aUuded 
to as a legend of the conversion 
of Britain. It was probably origi- 
nally derived from a group of 
apocryphal writtugs including the 
Evangelium Nicodemi, a book very 
popular in early Britain, or perhaps 
in an account of the evangeliza- 
tion of Britain by St. Joseph, 
included in some documents ema- 
nating from the Abbey of Glaston- 
bury in the twelfth century — a 
place traditionally connected with 
the Grail legend. Turning to the 
non-Christian element in the 
legend, we find the vengeance 
theme prominent — ^the redressing 
of wrong to a Mnsman — in several 
of the versions. (See Percyvelle, 
Peredur, etc.), but also the break- 
ing of spells and enchantments as 
in Diu Krdne {q.v.), and, in an- 
other romance, the manner in 
which the Grail was regarded as 
a tahsman to restore fertility to 
a desert land. This aspect of the 
legend may have its source in the 
pagan romance of Celtic Ireland 
and Wales, so that the Grail 
vessel may be connected with the 
Cauldron of Dagda the Irish God of 
FertiUty or the Lia Fail, Stone of 
Destiny, now in Westminster Ab- 
bey. In fine, the Grail legend 
may be a Christianized version of 
ancient Celtic myths, affected by 
Christian symbohsm and story. 
(For subject-matter of the several 



GRA 



143 



legends, vide " Peredur," " Perce- 
val le Gallois," " Conte del Graal," 
" Grand St. Graal," " Sir Percy- 
veUe," "Parzival," "Joseph of 
Arimathea," " Merlin," " Quete 
del St. Graal," "Didot Percival," 
and especially " Guyot.") 

GRAIL SWORD. In Arthurian ro- 
mance this weapon is associated 
with the Holy Grail. Its history 
commences with King David, on 
whose death Solomon is prompted 
to cherish it, but not before he 
has recast the pommel. After 
his death it falls into disuse. 
Solomon's wife having built a 
ship, she extravagantly furnishes 
the interior, and Solomon placed 
by the side of the luxurious bed 
the Grail sword. It is subse- 
quently discovered by the Knights 
of the Quest, who prompt Galahad 
to assume it. Strangely enough 
it does not resist his interference, 
and is borne by him. {Vide 
" Morte d'Arthur.") 

GRAM. (Vide "The Lay of the 
Volsungs.") A sword of magic 
thrust into a tree by Odin {q.v.), 
and pulled out by Sigmund {q.v.). 
Dag {q.v.) latterly became pos- 
sessed of it. It bestowed upon 
its possessor exceptional power, 
, and performed many miracles. 

GRAND ST. GRAAL. A romance on 
the subject of the Holy Grail {q.v.), 
probably dating from the begin- 
ning of the thirteenth century, 
and thus one of the latest ro- 
mances connected with the legend. 
A prologue states that Christ was 
the original author of the work. 
It tells how Joseph of Arimathea 
employed the dish used at the 
Last Supper to catch the blood of 
the Redeemer which flowed from 
His body before His entombment. 
He is cast into prison, but the 
dish keeps him supplied with 
food. He is set free by Vespasian, 



GRA 

and having been baptized by St. 
Philip, he converts many of his 
friends and kindred, and encloses 
the holy vessel in an ark. He 
sets out with his followers on a 
journey through the wilderness, 
and during his peregrinations is 
miraculously sustained by the 
dish. Reaching Sarras, where he 
converts Evelach, a native, he is 
placed in charge of a Uttle band 
of Christians by divine command. 
He is pierced with a lance for ven- 
turing too near the glory of the 
Grail, but is healed by an angel, 
and the lance is preserved, as 
Joseph is told that the last of his 
kin will be struck by it also. 
Nasciens, brother-in-law to Eve- 
lach, undergoes many adventures 
with the latter, and at length dis- 
covers the sword of Solomon, with 
which he is wounded. Josephes, 
son of Joseph, leads a band to 
Britain, where they find CeUdoine, 
the son of Nasciens. Joseph and 
his son are cast into prison by 
Crudel, King of North Wales, but 
on Evelach (who has received the 
Christian name of Mordrains) 
being instructed by Christ to 
deliver them, he proceeds to 
Britain and succeeds in freeing 
them. Mordrains builds a mon- 
astery, and there Perceval and 
Galahad meet with him, as is set 
forth in the tale of the Holy Grail. 
Brons, Joseph's brother-in-law, 
now enters the legend with his 
twelve sons, whom he brings to 
Josephes. As the youngest, Alain, 
is unmarried he is appointed 
guardian of the Grail at, the death 
of Josephes. Alain, having caught 
a great fish with which he feeds 
the entire company, is called the 
Rich Fisher, which title becomes 
that of all the Grail keepers in 
perpetuity. Alain duly becomes 
the Keeper of the Grail, and 
places it in the castle of CorbeniCj 



GRA 



146 



GRE 



for the ofience of reposing in 
which a king is wounded through 
both thighs. Josue succeeds 
Alain as keeper, and the line of 
guardians is brought down to 
Pelles, by whose daughter Lance- 
lot du Eac is the father of Galahad. 

GRANI (1). {Vide " Burnt Njal.") 
Younger son of Gunnar (q.v.), by 
Hallgerda {q.v.). Having received 
his life from Njal's sons who slew 
Thrain {q.v.), and Hrapp {q.v.), 
he iU returned their kinduess by 
assisting in the burning of Njal 
and his household. 

GRANI (2). {Vide " Volsungs, Bay 
of.") A foal presented by Odin 
to Sigurd {q.v.). She performed 
many wonderful feats, including 
the conveyance of her master 
through the flames to Brunhild's 
(q.v.) castle. 

GRANIA. In Irish romance, daughter 
of Cormac mac Art ; betrothed 
to Finn {q.v.). She beguiled 
Dermot {q.v.) to elope with her, 
and after sixteen years of 
outlawry, followed by a short 
time of peace, Dermot was slain 
by the boar of Ben Bulben {q.v.). 
Grania latterly espoused Finn. 
The myth is included in the Irish 
Ossianic cycle. 

GRASSY, SIR. {Vide " Bevis of 
Hampton.") Steward to the King 
of Mounbraunt. Boniface gave him 
a sleeping potion when he was in 
charge of the city, so as to enable 
Bevis and Josyan to escape. 

GRENDEL. (Legend of BeowuK.) 
A giant who hved in the morass 
near Hirschhalle, the hall of King 
Hrodgar (q.v.). He slew many 
warriors by night, none being able 
to resist him, till Beo^nilf, after a 
terrific struggle, inflicted on him 
his death- wound. (Vide " Beo- 
wulf.") 



GRETTIR THE STRONG. An Ice- 
landic saga, probably of the 
eleventh century. It abounds in 
impossibihties and incidents which 
are almost frankly mythical. The 
saga has few distinctive features, 
and can scarcely be regarded as 
in any sense a record of contem- 
porary Icelandic hfe. Grettir was 
the second son of Asmund and 
Asdis and the favourite of his 
mother. Short and stout of 
stature, of uncommon strength 
and perverse disposition, in his 
father's opinion he was good for 
nothing. He played many tricks 
upon his sire, flayed the weather- 
wise mare Keingald, and slew 
Skegg in a quarrel about a lost 
meal-bag. For this he had a fine 
to pay, which matter was settled 
by Thorfinn, Asmund's friend, 
and Grettir was ordered into a 
three years' banishment. Pro- 
vided with nothing save a sword 
which his mother gave him, he 
entered the vessel of Haflidi, 
which was wrecked on the island 
of Havamsey. Here Grettir re- 
mained for some time with its 
chief, Thorfinn, making friends 
with farmer Audun. Walking one 
evening with his companions he 
watched a fire break from a 
mound, and beheving the mound 
to conceal some treasure, he 
went next morning to dig an 
entrance into the mound, which 
was known as the grave of Old 
Karr, Thorfinn's father. Working 
all day he came at night to the 
rafters of the barrow, gathered 
together the treasure, and was 
about to ascend when the dead 
man awoke. After a tremendous 
struggle with him, Grettir shore 
off Karr's head, and laid it at his 
thigh that he might not come to 
life again. The treasure he de- 
livered up to Thorfinn, but sought 
to keep a certain short sword. 



GRE 

That, however, he might not have 
until he had done some great deed. 
But the weapon was soon his, for 
having trapped in the storeroom 
twelve outlaws who came at 
Yuletide to rob his master's home 
in Thorfinn's absence, he slew ten 
of them, the other two being 
later found dead of their wounds. 
Then he received the sword, and his 
name became famous in all Norway. 
At the beginning of spring Grettir 
came to HeHgoland, where he 
stayed with Thorkel and slew a 
great bear that was the dread of 
the countryside. But he and 
Biom, one of Thorkel's chief men, 
and a blustering, evil-tempered 
conceited person, were at daggers 
drawn. Again at spring-time 
Grettir started a wandering, and 
landed upon the island of Gartar 
in Drontheim Firth. He soon 
found his old enemy Biom, who 
had started for England, but had 
been driven by stress of weather 
into this haven. They fought, 
and Biorn was slain. The dead 
man's brother Hiarandi then 
sought redress, but Thorfinn paid 
down the blood-money, reminding 
Yarl Svein of Grettir's good deed 
in sla3dng the outlaws. Hiarandi, 
however, refused the money ; but 
one day seeking, with the help of 
five others, to slay Grettir, he and 
four of his accompUces were de- 
spatched by their intended victim 
and his friend Ambiorn, sent by 
his kinsman Thorfinn toaccompany 
Grettir, for whom he foresaw 
treachery was intended. Yarl 
Svein agreed to settle the matter 
at Tunsberg, where Gunnar, the 
brother of Biorn and Hiarandi, 
dwelt. Gunnar too sought to 
slay Grettir, but was sent the same 
road as his brothers, accom- 
panied by two of his accomplices, 
the third taking flight. Madly 
wroth with Grettir, Yarl Svein 



147 GRE 

would have hunted him from his 
refuge in his brother Thorstein 
Dromond's court. But the men 
of Tunsberg dissuaded him, and 
Grettir was banished from Norway, 
Thorfinn again paying the blood- 
money. Tte outlaw then made 
for Biarg, where his father dwelt. 
Hearing of the dreadful visitations 
of Glam, the ghost-slain shepherd 
of Thorhall, who owned a haunted 
farm in Waterdale, Grettir deter- 
mined to probe the mystery of 
the many slaughterings there. 
To that end he rode over to the 
farm, but it was not until the 
third night that he found his 
horse dead and the stable in 
ruins. The next night he rolled 
himself in a rug with but two 
openings for his eyes, laid down 
upon a locker and awaited events. 
Shortly after midnight Glam ap- 
peared, and after a tremendous 
struggle he was mastered by 
Grettir, who finally shore off his 
head, and, as in Karr's case, laid 
it beside his thigh. But the 
evil spirit foretold to Grettir ill 
luck, a wandering life, and a 
constant dread of its terrible grey 
eyes. Loaded with presents, Gret- 
tir then returned to Biarg. He 
next set out for Norway, to seek 
service with King Olaf, sla3ring, 
however, ere he left, Thorbiom 
the Tardy, a braggadocio, who 
had provoked him. But upon 
his way to Drontheim, the crew 
requiring fire, he swam ashore 
with a cask and procured some 
from a refuge-house. Here were 
the sons of Thorir of Garth, who, 
deeming him a troll, or evil 
spirit, set upon him with fire- 
brands. In the scuffle they set 
fire to the house and its inmates. 
For this mishap Grettir was 
blamed, and was shunned by the 
sailors. He sought out Olaf, with 
whom he claimed kinship, but 



GRE 

though the king believed in his 
innocence he would have no deal- 
ings with Grettir because of his 
ill-luck. On his way to Tunsberg 
he slew Snoekell, a berserk who 
challenged Einar in whose house 
Grettir was tarrying. But when 
he again set foot upon Franmas 
he learned that Asmund had 
died, Atli had been treacherously 
murdered by Thorbiom Oxmain, 
brother of the braggadocio sailor, 
and he, Grettir, had been out- 
lawed without a hearing. To 
avenge these things, Grettir slew 
Thorbiom and his son Amor, but 
being an outlaw he could not be 
prosecuted. Thorin of Garth then 
Joined with Thorod Drapnastump, 
Thorbiom's brother, and each set 
a price upon the outlaw's head. 
Escaping death by hanging at the 
hands of thirty farmers, Grettir, 
by the advice of Skapti, dwelt 
upon a lake-shore. Thither the 
Northlanders sent Grim and Red- 
beard, two ruffians, to murder the 
outlaw ; but these suffered defeat. 
Nor did the men sent by Thorir of 
Garth to entrap his enemy in the 
pass escape without many being 
slain and wounded by Grettir and 
Hallmund, his friend in need. 
For a short time the friends dwelt 
together, then Grettir began wan- 
dering again. He met the fop 
GisU, and by a severe lesson cured 
him of his bragging. Hearing of 
the Yule-eve hauntings at the 
homestead of the priest Steiu, 
Grettir sought out that place, 
guarded the home folk one Yule- 
eve, and flung the invading troll- 
wife into the stream's force. Then 
having regained his strength after 
grappling with the witch, he 
plunged into the force, hacked to 
pieces an ogre who dwelt there, and 
brought up the bones of Stein's 
two missing house-carles. These 
were buried in the churchyard, 



148 GRE 

and as at ThorhaU's farm, so here 
at Sand-heaps, the haunting 
ceased. Some time afterwards 
Grettir took with him his brother 
Illugi, and a merry tom-fool, 
nicknamed Noise, to the laddered 
island of Drangey. Here they 
lived upon the mainland farmer's 
sheep that grazed upon the rock. 
Wearjdng of that life, Grettir went 
disguised to the Thing at Heron- 
ness, where he wrestled victori- 
ously with Hialti and Thorbiom 
Angle. The latter havii^ pur- 
chased the whole island sought, by 
entreaties, threats, and finally 
sorcery, to wrest it from the out- 
law. In this case by the proffered 
assistance of his foster-mother, the 
witch Thurid {q.v.), he gained the 
hut where Grettir lay aU but help- 
less from a ghastly wound inflicted 
upon him by her agency. Then, 
after a protracted defence on the 
part of the outlaw and his brother. 
Noise having been beaten un- 
conscious, Thorbiom Angle seized 
the short sword and hacked ofi 
Grettir's head, thereby notching 
the blade. But Ulugi, steadfast 
in his revengeful intentions, was 
hacked to pieces . Thorbiom Angle 
took ship to Norway, and, boasting 
of his deed, revealed mmself to 
Thorstein Dromond, Grettir's only 
surviving brother, who with his 
brother's sword, cleft his skull in 
two. Cast into prison for his 
murder, Thorstein by his cheery 
singing attracted the good services 
of Lady Spes {q.v.), who ransomed 
him and whom he afterwards 
courted. Her jealous husband 
thrice had good proof of his lady's 
faithlessness, but by her cunning, 
faiUng to prove his allegation 
before others, he summoned hi^ s 
wife to swear to her innocence 
before the bishop. Again their 
combined inventiveness brought 
the lovers ofi victorious, and Lady 



GRE 



149 



Spes got a divorce from her 
husband Sigurd. Soon afterwards 
she wedded with Thorstein, with 
whom she hved happily and pros- 
perously, until by common consent 
they separated to end their Uves in 
penitence at Rome. The Cfrettir 
Saga, like that of Frithjof, is yet 
another legend superimposed upon 
the sun-mjrth. Grettir is the man 
of the sun disguised as our Ice- 
landic hero. But, while in the 
Frithjof Saga the hero finally wins 
peace and happiness upon the 
bosom of his beloved, here, in this 
tale, through blood and destruc- 
tion, Grettir meets a dreadful and 
agonizing death. In the one Saga 
we feel the softer, more beautiful 
and more peaceful influence of the 
sun ; in the other we are oppressed 
by his gigantic strength, and the 
feeling that even that cannot avail 
him when all-consuming night 
gapes to annihilate him. 

GREY OF MACHA. In Irish romance, 
the horse of Cuchulain {q.v.). 

GRIM (I). (Vide "Grettir Saga.") 
A ruffian who was sent to murder 
Grettir in his lonely hut, but was 
himself slain by his intended 
victim. 

GRIM (2). An outlaw and lucky 
fisherman harboured by Hallmund 
{q.v.), who figures in the Grettir 
Saga. Grim coming upon him 
with a missing fish belonging to 
him in his hand, slew him. 

GRIM (3). {Vide "Burnt Njal.") 
Second son of Njal. With his brother 
Helgi {q.v.)h.e went sea-roving by the 
Orlmeys, and made friends there 
with the" vikiag Kari {q.v.). He 
assisted in the slaying of Thrain 
{q.v.) and Hrapp, and that of 
Hanskuld, but was burnt ia 
the Bergthorsknoll by Flosi (q.v.). 



GUA 

GRIM (4). (Vide "Dietrich of 
Bern.") A giant brother to Hilda 
(q.v.), who was equally as formid- 
able. He was subsequently slain 
by Dietrich and Hildebrand. 

GRIMHILD. (Vide " Volsungs.") 
Wife of King GuiM (q.v.) and 
mother of Gunnar (q.v.), Hogni 
(q.v.), Guttorm (q.v.), and Gudrun 
(q.v.). She administered to Gud- 
run a magic draught, under the 
infiuence of which the latter 
married Atli (q.v.). 

GRINAMORE, SIR. Knight of King 
Arthur, brother of Liones and 
Einet, and friend of Sir Gareth 
(q.v.). (Vide " Morte d'Arthur.") 

GRIOGORAS. In Arthurian romance, 
a knight whom Gauvain had once 
punished for iU-doing, and whom 
he finds wounded in a forest, 
nursed by a damsel. On the 
occasion Griogoras makes off with 
Gauvain's horse. He is alluded to 
in the Gonte del Graal. 

GRONW PEBYR. In Welsh legend, 
a stranger loved by Blodeuwedd, 
and finally slain by her husband 
tlew. 

GUARINOS THE ADMIRAL. A 

Spanish tale of the Charlemagne 
cycle in ballad form. Guarinos, 
admiral to King Charles of France, 
was captured in battle by the seven 
Moorish Kings. They cast lots as 
to which of them is to win him, 
and the prize falls to Marlotes. 
Marlotes offers Guarinos wealth 
and his daughter as wife if he will 
become a Moslem. This Guarinos 
refuses ; he is therefore put into a 
dungeon and bound with iron 
bands. Three times only in the 
year does he see daylight, namely, 
on the three high-feast days. At 
the feast of John the Baptist, Mar- 
lotes raises a high target which the 
Moorish Knights must pierce. It 



GUD 



150 



is, however, so high that none of 
them succeed. Marlotes, in his 
anger at their failure, proclaims 
that until the spearman's prize is 
won, no banquet shall begin. 
Guarinos, in his dungeon, hears 
this from his jailer, and begs him 
to ask the king to give him his 
horse and armour so that he may 
try for the prize, wiUingly forfeiting 
his hfe should he fail. The king 
consents. Guarinos vaults into 
the saddle, halts before Marlotes, 
and pierces him with his lance. 
He then flies off to France. 

GUDRUN (1). Third portion of Ett- 
muUer 's division of the Gvdrun Lay 
(q.v.). (For the second portion, CTcie 
"Hagen and Hettel.") Gudrun 
was the daughter of Hettel and 
Hilda, King and Queen of Fries- 
land and sister of Ortwein. She 
was exceptionally beautiful, and 
had many suitors, chief among 
them being King Seyfried of Moor- 
land (afterwards spoken of as 
King of Carady), King Hartmut of 
Ormany, and King Herwig of 
Seeland (q.v.), all of whom her 
father rejected. Herwig marched 
against Hettel, and a fierce conflict 
took place, till Gudrun intervened. 
While she pleaded for peace, love 
stirred in her towards Herwig, and 
at last her parents agreed to his 
suit, and they were betrothed, 
Hilda stipulating for a year's 
delay. Meantime, Seyfrid ra- 
vaged Herwig's land, and Herwig, 
returning home, was forced to 
sohcit aid from Hettel, who went 
to his assistance with his nobles. 
During their absence Gerlinte 
urged her son Hartmut and his 
father to attack HegeUngen and 
win Gudrun by force, which they 
did, and carried off Gudrun with 
many of her ladies. Queen Hilda 
sent the news to Herwig and 
Hettel, who made peace with 



GUD 

Seyfrid and secured his aid against 
Hartmut. They followed Hart- 
mut and his men to the Wulpen- 
strand, where a dreadful conflict 
took place, in which Hettel was 
killed. During the night, Ludwig 
and Hartmut with their men 
succeeded in embarking and escap- 
ing unseen, carrying Gudrun with 
them. Pursuit was useless tiU a 
younger generation grew to man- 
hood, as the flower of Denmark 
was slain, so all that Queen Hilda 
and Herwig could do was to 
labour at building up another 
expedition . Meantime , on nearing 
Ormany, Eudwig bade Gudrun 
cease weeping and look with love 
on his son. " Death were prefer- 
able," declared the captive, and 
Ludwig in rage flung her into the 
sea, but Hartmut rescued her. 
Queen GerMnte and her daughter 
Ortrun received Gudrun magnifi- 
cently, but Gudrun declined to 
Mss Gerlinte, and the queen hated 
her because she persisted in her 
refusal to marry Hartmut. De- 
votedly did he love her, and 
throughout many years repeatedly 
sought to win her heart, but 
Gudrun steadfastly refused to 
forget Herwig. Whenever Hart- 
mut in despair went away for a 
time, Grcrlmte endeavoured to 
break Gudrun's spirit by all kinds 
of indignities and ill-treatment, 
forcing her and her maidens to do 
the lowest menial work. Ortrun, 
however, who loved Gudrun, did 
her best to help her, and pleaded 
her brother's cause, but londness 
and cruelty aUke failed to move 
Gudrun from her fidelity to Her- 
wig, even Hartmut's unchanging, 
love proving vain. For many 
years this continued, and Gerlinte, 
on Hartmut's absence on an ex- 
pedition, set Gudrun to wash 
clothes on the sea-shore from morn 
tiU night. One of Gudrun's 



GUD 

maidens, Hildeburg, true to her 
mistress through all, asked per- 
mission to share her hardships, 
and for six and a half years they 
endured this menial occupation, 
while Gerlinte's cruelty grew 
worse. She forced them to wear 
the thinnest of garments in icy 
weather. Still Gudrun's fidehty 
never faltered. Then, one day, 
a sea-maiden in the shape of 
a swan brought them good news 
of a rescuing fleet from Denmark. 
This fleet, completed at length, 
set sail for Ormany, headed by 
Herwig, Horant (as standard- 
bearer), Morung, Wate, and others, 
joined by Seyfried, with reinforce- 
ments. On landing in the neigh- 
bourhood of Hartmut's fortress, 
Herwig and Ortwein set out in a 
boat as messengers to Gudrun, 
and came upon her and HUdeburg, 
half-clad and washing clothes in 
the bitter cold. After some speech 
with them, mutual recognition took 
place, and great joy was theirs. 
Herwig wished to carry off the 
maidens at once, but Ortwein 
insisted on winning them by 
battle and " with honour," and a 
" hard parting " took place mean- 
time. Gudrun having been ' ' kissed 
by two kings " flung the washing 
into the sea and defied Gerhnte, 
who ordered her to be flogged. 
To escape this indignity, and with 
a view to her rescue on the morrow, 
Gudrun feigned to agree to wed 
Hartmut. Full of Joy he came to 
her, but she asked fit robes for 
herself and her maidens, and bade 
him send messengers to summon 
his friends to the wedding, thus 
diminishing his forces. Her re- 
quests were carried out. Through 
the night the Hegehngen army 
approached the fortress, and on 
the morrow a fierce conflict took 
place, Hartmut and his knights 
going forth bravely to meet the 



151 GUD 

enemy. Herwig and Ludwig 
fought, Herwig finally slaying 
Ludwig. Harmut and Wate en- 
gaged in combat, when suddenly 
Gerhnte ordered a " faithless 
churl " to slay Gudrun, and Hart 
mut, hearing her voice, ceased 
fighting, threatening the murderer 
with death, thus saving Gudrun 
almost at the cost of his own life. 
Ortrun besought Gudrun to inter- 
vene to save Hartmut's life. Her- 
wig tried to part Wate and 
Hartmut, Wate striking at him in 
anger at the interruption, but 
Hartmut was saved, being made 
a prisoner. Wate stormed the 
city, fiercely slaying and plunder- 
ing. Gudrun sheltered Ortrun 
and her maidens, and when Ger- 
hnte also sought protection, Gu- 
drun forgave her wrongs and tried 
to save her, but Wate found and 
slew her, only sparing Ortrun and 
her ladies at Gudrun's tearful 
prayers and expostulations . Wate 
also slew Heregart, a maid who 
had proved false to Gudrun. 
Lovingly was Herwig received by 
Gudrun, and having devastated 
the land, the Danes and their 
aUies returned to Denmark, leaving 
Morant and Morung to keep the 
country, and carrying with them 
Hartmut and the other prisoners. 
(Ficie "Gudrun Lay.") 

GUDRUN (2). (Vide "Volsungs.") 
Daughter of King Giuki (q.v.) and 
Griinhild (q.v.), and mother of 
Swanhild (q-v.). She wedded 
Sigurd (q.v.) while the latter was 
under the influence of a magic 
potion. Her husband was slain 
by Guttorm (q.v.). Her mother 
again influenced her into marrying 
AtU (q.v.). She despised her 
second husband, whose treachery 
toward her brothers she repelled. 
She eventually succeeded by the 
aid of Niblung (q.v.) in slaying 



GUD 



152 



Atli. After this she attempted to 
drown herself, but the sea carried 
her to the burg of King Jonakr 
(q.v.), who took her to wife. She 
lived long enough to witness the 
end of her kindred. 

GUDRUN LAY. A German epic, 
embodjdng North German or 
Frisian-Danish-Norse sagas, re- 
counting the legendary history of 
three generations. EttmuUer {Gu- 
drun Lieder, 1841) divides the 
whole epic into three — Hagene, 
Hagene und Hettel, and Gudrun, 
and for convenience we have dealt 
more fuUy with the epic under 
these three headings. The lay 
tells how Hagen, son of Sigebant 
and Uta, King and Queen of Ire- 
land, is carried ofE by a grifSn, and 
after many vicissitudes, returns 
home, marries Hilda of India, and 
succeeds his father as king. He 
refuses all suitors for the hand of 
his daughter Hilda, but King 
Hettel of Denmark sends mes- 
sengers who win her heart to his 
cause and succeed in abducting 
her — a willing captive — and bring 
her to be King Hettel 's bride. 
Her father follows in wrath, and a 
great fight ensues between Hagen's 
men and the Danes, ending in 
peace being concluded. To Hilda 
and Hettel are bom a son and 
daughter, Ortwein and Gudrun, the 
latter of whom is marvellously 
beautiful. She has many suitors, 
chief of whom are Seyfrid, King 
of Moorland, Hartmut, King of 
Ormany, and Herwig, King of 
Seeland; but Hettel refuses them 
all. Herwig attacks Hettel's 
fortress, wins Gudrun's love, and 
finally is accepted by Hettel as her 
future husband. Hartmut, how- 
ever, carries her o£E to Ormany, 
where she is held captive for many 
years, during which time Hartmut, 
who truly loves her, endeavours in 



GUD 

vain to induce her to forget Her- 
wig, to whom she is faithful even 
when cruelly ill treated by Hart- 
mut's mother GerUnte, who is 
determined to force her to wed 
Hartmut. At length Herwig is 
able to rescue her, the poem giving 
a vivid and dramatic description 
of how this takes place. Probably 
the chief feature of the epic is 
Gudrun's fidehty, and she stands 
as the type of love that remains 
true through trial and suffering. 
The poem regarding her is one of 
the finest examples of the German 
epic muse. It has been preserved 
through the agency of the Emperor 
Maximilian I., who, about 1517, 
caused it, along with others, to be 
transcribed in one volume and 
placed in the Ambras Library in 
the Tyrol. It was brought to 
Mght some three hundred years 
later. The earUest reference to 
any portion of the Gudrun legend 
appears to occur in the Exeter 
Anglo-Saxon MS., where Heovrend 
the " lay-crafty man " is spoken 
of — apparently the Horant of 
Gudrun. An allusion to Wate's 
valour seems to occur in Priest 
Konrad's version of the Song of 
Roland (1173 to 1177). The Gu- 
drun Lay cannot be taken as 
primarily forming a whole, nor as 
being the work of a single author — 
which accounts, doubtless, for 
several discrepancies in point of 
time, etc., which occur in the 
poem as it now stands. (For a 
short discussion of these, see 
Popular Epics of the Middle Ages, 
by Ludlow.) The frequent varia- 
tion in proper names also indicates 
variety of source, or of text. The 
earher portion of the poem has 
really Uttle connection with the 
" Gudrun " portion, except as 
regards names. Ludlow is " in- 
cUned to think that the Gudrun 
Lay proper is the oldest portion. 



GUD 

He also states that a kernel of 
ancient legend lies in the Hagen 
Lay portion, overlaid by modem 
additions . The names and scenery 
point to the origin of the poem 
being Norse ; the story of the 
griffins indicates Oriental tradi- 
tions, while Ludlow considers the 
fencing and the story of Gudrun's 
trials in captivity quite modem in 
character. He says, " To the 
thirteenth century, I beUeve, be- 
longs the idea of female sufferings 
as subject for epic treatment ; the 
story of Gudrun may thus be con- 
nected with the French Berte aux 
grans pieds, and hnks itself on to the 
popular fourteenth-century tale of 
the Patient Cfrizzel, as treated by 
Boccaccio and Chaucer." A version 
of the legend, with variations, 
occurs in the '^ounger Edda of 
Snorre, where Hilldr the Dane, 
daughter of Hogni (Hagen) = 
Hilda, who married Hedin (Het- 
tel). Hilldr, however, is repre- 
sented as a witch, and later, 
ceasing to love Hedin, casts a spell 
upon him and her father, so that 
every night they rise and fight one 
another till dawn. This is obvi- 
ously a remnant of a day-and-night 
myth. M. Amedee Thierry sees in 
this form of the legend especially 
a reminiscence of the history of 
AtiUa, who = Hettel, while Hilda 
is Hdico, the historic bride of 
Attila. He also identifies her 
with Walther's bride Hildegrund, 
in the Walther-legend (g.v.). The 
carrying away of Hogni's daughter 
is spoken of by older Norse writers 
than Snorre, and also by Saxo 
Grammaticus. Some authorities 
also consider that Horant, or 
Hjarrandi appears in the Hamlet- 
myths as Orendil or Aurentil, and 
is "no other than Orpheus or 
Amphion, Pan or Wainamoinen." 
For a fuller account of the MS. of 
Chtdrun, and of modem German 



153 GUI 

translations and theories on the 
poem — also some speculations as 
to the locaUties referred to in it, 
see Gudrun, a Story of the North 
Sea (1863), by Miss Letherbrow, 
Preface and Introduction. 

GUIBORC. Wife of William of 
Orange (q.v.). She was originally 
wife to the Saracen King of 
Orange, Tybalt, when she was 
called Orable, but fell in love with 
William and married him. {Vide 
" Orable " and " Prise d'Orange.") 

GUIELIN, A Frankish knight, 
nephew of William of Orange, who 
held the tower of Glorietta in the 
city of Orange along with WilUam 
against the Saracens. ( Vide ' ' Prise 
d'Orange.") 

GUILLARDUN, (Fi(Ze "Eliduc, Lay 
of.") Daughter of the King of 
Logres, who held his court near 
Exeter. Ehduc, having been 
banished from the court of Brittany, 
took service with the king and 
defeated the knight who was 
warring against the monarch for 
the hand of Guillardun. After a 
year the maiden had sight and 
speech of her father's champion, 
when both fell in love with each 
other. The obstacle to the union 
of the knight and the princess was 
his wife Guilldeluec (q.v.). But 
she discovered the secret of her 
lord's sadness and gloom, and 
craving leave to take the veil, thus 
permitted him to wed with 
Guillardun. 

GUILLAUME DE LORRIS. A French 
troubadour of the thirteenth cen- 
tury. He is famous as author of 
the first part of the Boman de la 
Bose, concluded subsequently by 
Jean de Meung, but no biographical 
facts concerning him have come 
down to posterity. A French 
writer, M. L. Jarry , in his Ouillaume 
de Lorris et le Testament d'Alphonse 



GUI 

de Poitiers (1881), has attempted 
to identify the poet with one 
GuiUielmus de Lorriaco, mentioned 
in the will of Alphonse of Poitiers ; 
but the writer's contentions are 
based on the slenderest evidence, 
and it is likely that Guillaume's 
sub-name was given him simply on 
account of his being a native of 
Lorris, a small village about 
equidistant from Montargis and 
Gien. GuiUaume is credited with 
some four or five thousand lines of 
the Roman, and at the outset of 
these he describes himself as being 
twenty years of age when he 
conceived the poem, but he adds 
that it was not till five years later 
that he began to write it down. 
The mere fact that so young a 
man left his work unfinished 
suggests that he died prematurely, 
and this idea has gradually become 
current, a pathetic interest attach- 
ing to GuiUaume accordingly. 
But his memory hardly requires 
anything of that sort to keep it 
fresh, for it is improbable that 
recognition will ever cease to be 
given to his verse, abounding as it 
does in vivid descriptions, and 
occasionally disclosing phraseology 
of exceptional beauty. The idea 
has been mooted sometimes that 
he was indebted in some measure 
to Ovid, and, be that as it may, his 
work certainly hints at obligations 
to his compatriot, Raoul de 
Houdenc. Nevertheless, GuiUaume 
must be regarded as a man of no 
ordinary originaUty, while more- 
over, the Roman de la Rose proved 
the most influential of aU the great 
Mediaeval French poems, its style 
being imitated by endless later 
writers, not only in France but 
also elsewhere. 

GUILLDELUEC, ( Vide " EUduc, Lay 
of.") Wife of EUduc. Having 
discovered the beautiful maiden 



154 GP» 

Guillardun whom her husband 
loved and whom he beUeved dead, 
GuiUdeluec prayed his leave to 
take the veil. He therefore 
founded a church, instaUed his 
wife as abbess there, and wed with 
GuiUardun. 

GUINEVERE. Wife of King Arthur, 
and daughter of the King of 
Cameliard. On espousing her 
Arthur was warned by Merlin that 
she was " not wholesome for him," 
and this prophecy was soon ful- 
filled as regards her amour with 
Sir Lancelot du Lac. She, how- 
ever, concealed her deficiencies 
from the king for many years, 
until at length his eyes were 
opened to her intrigues. She 
eventuaUy betook herself to a 
nunnery, where she died after a 
few years' residence. She is of the 
breed of women who, like Helen of 
Troy or Deirdre, are the doom and 
destroyers of cities and good 
knights through their iU-conceived 
loves. 

GUINGAMOUR or GUGEMAR, LAY 

OF. A romance or lai, attributed 
to Marie of France {q.v.). Con- 
cerning it the Bretons " had 
already made a lay." The Baron 
Oridial, Lord of Leon, had a 
daughter and son, Nogent and 
Gugemar. The lad went to take 
service at court, where he was 
knighted. He was a goodly 
person, but had one fault, he 
" took no care of love." Desirous 
of advancement, he set out for 
Flanders, and having achieved 
many adventures there, returned 
to his own country in order that 
he might once more behold his 
parents. Chancing to come upon 
a white doe whUst hunting, he 
wounded her above the hoof, but 
the arrow glanced and struck 
Gugemar in the thigh, so that he 
f eU off his horse beside the wounded 



GUI 



deer. The animal addressed him 
in human speech, and told him that 
never would he be healed unless 
by a woman who, because of her 
love, would suffer such pain and 
sorrow as no woman in the world 
had done before. Binding up his 
wound, Gugemar mounted his 
steed and rode to the sea-shore, 
where he espied a goodly vessel, 
which he boarded. Within it was 
a bed made " in the days of King 
Solomon," surrounded by every 
possible luxury. He entered the 
bed, and, a wind springing up, was 
carried out to sea. He was wafted 
to an ancient city, where dwelt 
an old king who was supremely 
jealous of his young and beautiful 
wife. Her bower was waUed in 
with green marble, and here she 
dwelt with her niece, save whom 
no one ever entered the place. 
Only one man, an aged priest, 
possessed the key to the bower. 
The captive queen marked the 
arrival of Gugemar's ship from 
her garden, and her niece chmbed 
aboard to see who was therein, 
returning to say that she had found 
a slain knight within the vessel. 
Beholding Gugemar, the queen 
immediately conceived a violent 
passion for him, and the knight 
awaking, was told the circum- 
stances in which she lived, adding 
that she desired him to remain 
until he was cured. For a year 
and a half Gugemar dwelt with the 
lady in love, when the queen had 
a presentiment that she would lose 
him. She therefore desired him to 
give her a shirt upon which she 
put such a knot that any woman 
who loved him must first undo it. 
In turn he placed a girdle about 
her middle with a secret clasp and 
buckle which no one could undo 
save himself. Discovered by the 
king's chamberlain, Gugemar was 
once more committed to his ship, 



155 GUI 

which returned whence it had 
come, and brought him home. 
The lady whom he had left was 
placed in prison by her husband 
the king for the space of two 
years. One day she found the 
prison door open, and, passing 
out, made her way to the sea- 
shore where she found her lover's 
magic ship, which she entered. 
It carried her to a port of Brittany, 
where reigned as lord one Meriadus, 
who, departing on a warlike 
expedition, chanced to note the 
arrival of the vessel. Beholding 
the queen, he fell in love with her, 
and brought her to his castle, 
placing her beside his sister. 
Learning that she would have no 
man for lover who could not 
unclasp her girdle, Meriadus told 
her that in that country dwelt a 
knight who would wed no woman 
who might not undo a knot in his 
shirt. Meriadus made a great 
Jousting, to which came Gugemar. 
He encountered his love in Meria- 
dus' castle, and Meriadus suggested 
that she should attempt to untie 
the knot in his shirt. Gugemar 
sent for the garment, the knot in 
which she easily unravelled. 
Gugemar requested Meriadus to 
give up the queen, which he 
refused to doj so Gugemar left 
the castle in wrath, and returned 
with a strong force, ultimately 
taking the fortress and regaining 
his lady. 

GUIROMELANT. In Arthurian 
romance, a knight who loves 
Gauvain's sister Clarissant, and 
with whom Gauvain arranges a 
combat. Gauvain is detested by 
Guiromelant for having slain his 
father. Unaware of Gauvain's 
identity Guiromelant asked him to 
bear a ring to Clarissant, who was 
an inmate of a magic castle. This 
Gauvain does. The duel between 



GUN 156 



the knights is hindered, and Guiro- 
melant weds Clarissant. 

GUNNAR (1). ( Vide " Grettir Saga.") 
like his brother Hiarandi (q.v.), 
he was slain by Grettir, upon 
whom he sought to avenge Biom's 
death. 

GUNNAR (2). (Fiie "Burnt Njal.") 
Dearest friend of Njal. Having 
married Hallgerda {q.v.),he suffered 
much ill on her accoimt, for she was 
at constant feud with Njal's wife 
Bergthora (q.v.), and this brought 
about many slayings of the 
servants of both farms. Again, 
by steahng from the store-house of 
OtkeU {q.v.) she incurred the dis- 
pleasure of Gunnar, who gave her 
a blow on the face, an insult she 
never forgot. This theft led to 
Gunnar's death ; for Skamkell 
(q.v.), OtkeU's friend, having noised 
it abroad that Gunnar had wept 
with the pain of an unintentional 
gash from OtkeU's spear, Gunnar 
and his brother Kolskegg, found an 
opportunity to slay OtkeU and 
SkamkeU. Then the cunning Mord 
(q.v.), learning that Njal had 
warned his friend not to slay two in 
the same stock, advised Thorgeir 
(5'.'!;.), who sought Gunnar's death, 
to harden the heart of OtkeU's son, 
an honest and peace-loving youth, 
against his father's slayer. Gunnar 
slew the son and was ordered into 
a three years' banishment with his 
brother Kolskegg. But his home 
looked so beautiful as he was 
leaving it that he was unable to 
go, and remained at Lithend. 
Then Mord, Thorgeir, and Gizir 
the White, sought his death ; and 
one day before sunset, having 
slain his faithful hound Sam, they 
surrounded his house , and slew 
him. Nor at this critical moment 
would HaUgerda assist him when 
he bade her make a bowstring of 
her hair. She only laughed, re- 



GUN 

minded him of the blow he had 
given her, and left him unaided. 

GUNNLAUG SAGA. An Icelandic 
tale, probably of the eleventh 
century. Gunnlaug of the Worm- 
Tongue, a designation given him 
on account of his stinging speech, 
was the son of lUugi. He was sent 
at the age of fifteen to learn law- 
craft from his father's friend, 
Thorstein EgUson. During the 
three years of his studentship he 
and Thorstein's daughter, Helga, 
returned each other's love, and 
when upon the eve of his departure 
for foreign parts, Gunnlaug asked 
for Helga's hand. Thorstein, after 
much sohcitation, both from father 
and son, agreed to hold his daughter 
betrothed to her lover, should he, 
after three years' travelling, return 
with a satisfactory record. Gunn- 
laug set sail, and, coming to 
Drontheim, through his sharp 
speech, suffered the displeasure of 
Yarl Eric, co-king with his 
brother Svein. He therefore de- 
parted from Norway, and disem- 
barking in London, proceeded to 
the court of King Athelred. 
Having sung the praises of this 
monarch at court, he was made a 
king's man, and was gifted with a 
gold-embroidered scarlet cloak. 
He gained great renown from the 
slaying of one Thorom, a notorious 
robber of London, who had refused 
to return him a loan. But at the 
approach of spring the Icelander 
sailed for Iceland, and here too he 
sang at the Royal Court. From 
King Sigtrygg also he received 
gifts. The winter he spent with 
Yarl Sigurd in the Orkneys, whence 
he took ship for Upsala. Here he 
met Rafn the Skald, an Icelander, 
with whom he made a friendly 
compact. The friendship, how- 
ever, was broken by Gimnlaug's 
disparaging criticism of Rafn's 



GUN 

song offered to the Mng, and the 
unsuccessful singer vowed revenge. 
Rafn soon afterwards set sail for 
Iceland, and enlisted the services 
of his kinsman, Skapti the lawman, 
in a suit for the hand of Helga. 
At the same time Gunnlaug 
returned to England as promised, 
but was delayed there for two 
years by Athelred, who feared a 
Danish invasion. Then entering 
the first north-bound ship, he came 
to Norway. Now, Yarl Eric had 
heard that Gunnlaug had sung, 
whUe in the Orkneys, a song in 
praise of him. Gunnlaug was 
therefore assisted by that earl to 
find ship for Iceland, but here he 
landed several miles from Burg- 
frith and Helga, and was further 
delayed by Thord, a farmer's son, 
who insisted on wrestUng with 
Gunnlaug and his companions. 
But the challenger, having got the 
better of all the companions, was 
thrown by Gunnlaug, who, how- 
ever, sprained his ankle. The 
consequence of this mishap was 
that Helga's lover reached Burg- 
frith at the time of her wedding- 
feast with Rafn. At the following 
Yule-tide marriage-feast, however, 
Gunnlaug and Helga met, and the 
disappointed lover gave the un- 
happy bride Athelred's gold- 
embroidered scarlet cloak. But 
when summer came Gunnlaug, in 
the hearing of the people at the 
Thing, challenged Rafn to meet 
him on the holm of Axe river 
within three days. The foes met, 
but could not agree regarding who 
had prevailed. Unable to decide 
their quarrel, the rivals then set 
sail each in a ship, Rafn reaching 
Drontheim, Gunnlaug the court of 
Yarl Eric. But this monarch 
forebade their intended combat, 
until hearing that Rafn was on his 
way into Sweden, he sent guides 
with Guimlaug to conduct him 



157 GUT 

thither. The foes again met, this 
time to slay each other. And 
Helga, lonely and sad in her father's 
house, plucked the golden threads 
from Gunnlaug 's cloak. After a 
time she was wedded to Thorkel, 
to whom she bore several sons and 
daughters. Still her only deUght 
was in Gunnlaug's gift, and when 
sickness fell upon Thorkel's home- 
folk she asked for the cloak, 
plucked out the last thread, and 
died in her husband's arms. ( Vide 
Sir W. Cox and Jones, Tales of 
Teutonic Lands.) 

GUNTER, SIR. {Vide " Guy of War- 
wick.") A gallant knight of 
Otho's who nearly killed Heraud in 
the fight with the Italians. 

GUNTHER (1). {Vide "Nibelungen- 
hed.") Son of King Giuki and 
husband of Brunhild {q.v.), whom 
Siegfried gained for him by riding 
through the fire-ring at Isenstein. 
He is afterwards king of his father's 
realm, and is slain by Kriemhild 
in vengeance for assisting in the 
death of Siegfried. 

GUNTHER (2). {Vide "Nibelungen- 
hed.") Son of Siegfried and 
ELriemhild, and nephew to King 
Gunther of Burgundy. 

GUROUN, SIR. A wealthy knight. 
Mentioned in the Lay le Fraine 
{q.v.), who, to obtain the love of 
Le Fraine, entered an abbey, but 
soon after fled with his lady. He 
married Le Codre {q.v.), whom he 
discovered to be the sister of Le 
Fraine. This discovery caused him 
to dissolve his marriage and wed 
his former love, Le Fraine. 

GUTTORM. (Fide"Volsungs.") Son 
of King Giuki and Grimhild {q.v.). 
He, influenced by his brother 
Gunnar {q.v.), slew Sigurd {q.v.), in 
the doing of which he met his own 
death. 



GUY 



158 



GUY OF WARWICK, SIR. An 

English romance of the thirteenth 
century. Roland, Earl of War- 
wick, was renowned for his wisdom 
and bravery, and his laws put into 
practice by his worthy steward 
Segard were respected by all. 
His daughter, FeUce, was famous 
for her beauty and her learning. 
Segard's son, Guy, was cupbearer 
to the earl and was very popular. 
He was handsome, strong and 
brave, and had been brought up in 
all manly graces and sports by the 
famous Heraud of Ardenne. The 
Feast of Pentecost was about to be 
celebrated. It began with High 
Mass, then there was a banquet, 
followed by festivities and sports. 
This feast lasted a fortnight. Guy 
was told to take charge of FeUce's 
dinner-party, and attracted much 
admiration from her ladies. Even 
FeUce noticed him and asked his 
name. Guy fell violently in love 
with FeUce, although he knew that 
it might mean death if he dared to 
express his devotion. At the end 
of the festival he could bear it no 
longer and declared his love to 
Pehee, to meet with a disdainful 
refusal. This caused him to fall 
sick. The physicians could do 
nothing for him, not knowing the 
cause of his malady which threat- 
ened to be fatal. Felice, however, 
in a dream saw an angel who 
advised her to return Guy's love ; 
so when he again expressed his 
love for her and fainted, she took 
pity on him and promised her troth 
when he was knighted and had 
proved his valour at the tourna- 
ments. This good news had a 
marvellous effect on Guy. He 
once more attended court and was 
knighted by the king. FeUce 
requiring of him to achieve a name 
worthy of her, Sir Guy determined 
to go to foreign countries in search 
of adventures, and under the care 



GUY 

of Heraud and Sir Thorold and 
Sir Urry and a requisite retinue he 
left to win a name. They journeyed 
first to Rouen, where they foimd 
a tournament was to be held in 
honour of Blanchefleur, daughter 
of Reignier, Emperor of Gtermany. 
The prize fell to Guy, and after 
sending a suit of armour and a gift 
of money to Blanchefleur, he 
sent oflE his prizes to Roland and 
FeUce. He then travelled through 
Europe, gaining distinction and 
renown everywhere. After a year, 
Heraud suggested returning to 
England, and they went to Eondon 
and presented themselves to King 
Athelstane. On going home to 
Warwick Sir Guy hastened to 
FeUce, hoping that now she would 
deem him worthy of her. FeUce, 
however, would not promise to 
marry Guy until he was at such a 
pinnacle of glory that he was 
unrivalled. Sir Guy, as a true 
lover, foUowed his lady's wishes, 
and begged permission from Roland 
to go further afield in his search for 
glory. The earl urged him to stay, 
and his parents besought him not 
to leave them alone in their old 
age, but his lady's word was law, 
and he set out again, with the same 
attendants. He went to Flanders, 
and traveUed through Spain, 
Germany and Lombardy, gaining 
prizes and fame everywhere, but 
he was severely wounded at 
Beneventum in Italy, and his 
enemies made a plot to take him 
at a disadvantage. Guy had an 
enemy in Otho, Duke of Pavia, 
who incited several ItaUan knights 
to wait in ambush in a wood where 
Sir Guy and his companions were 
to pass. A desperate combat took 
place, and Sir Thorold and Sir Urry 
were killed . Heraud was supposed 
to be dead, and Sir Guy was 
left victorious to bewail the fate 
of his dear friends. Indeed, he 



GUY 



159 



reproached Pelice for having been 
the primary cause of this loss of 
life. He left the dead body as he 
thought of Heraud in charge of a 
monk for burial and found shelter 
in the cave of a hermit. When he 
was cured of his wounds he went to 
Saxony and travelling from there 
to Burgundy, intended to go on 
to England. He found his friend 
Heraud in Burgundy, disguised as 
a palmer, and they went together 
through Flanders. Then at St. 
Omer they heard that Segwin, 
Duke of Louvain, was besieged by 
the Emperor Reignier and was in 
great straits. Sir Guy with a 
small army went to his assistance 
and defeated the royaUsts, and the 
emperor then collected a huge 
army, and a great battle took 
place in which Thierry of Gurmoise 
distinguished himself. But the 
unconquerable Guy was victorious. 
The Emperor with a still larger 
army was unsuccessful and the 
siege was turned into a blockade. 
One day when the emperor was out 
hxmting and defenceless, he en- 
countered Sir Guy, who met him 
with an olive branch and said he 
was sure that Segwin would 
welcome the emperor. So the 
emperor went with his conqueror 
into the city and peace was made. 
Segwin married the emperor's 
niece. Soon after. Sir Guy heard 
that Emis, Emperor of Greece, 
was besieged by the Soudan and 
that his condition was desperate. 
Sir Guy collected an army, was 
received cordially by Emis and 
completely defeated the Saracens. 
Emis promised to give his daughter 
Loret in marriage to Sir Guy. 
Sir Murgadour, who had fallen in 
love with the princess Loret by a 
lying story, tried to destroy Sir 
Guy's reputation with the em- 
peror, and then persuaded Sir Guy 
that the emperor meant to kill 



GUY 

him. Guy nearly went over to 
the Saracens in anger, but 
meeting the emperor an explana- 
tion ensued, and Sir Murgadour 's 
treachery was revealed. Sir Guy, 
hearing that the Soudan meditated 
another attack, went out to meet 
him, and after a hard struggle 
dispersed the army. Sir Murga- 
dour now tried another plot. 
He persuaded the emperor to 
propose a single cojnbat between 
two champions, one for the 
Saracens, the other the Christians. 
Sir Guy offered to champion the 
Christians, and addressed the 
Soudan, telling him that God's 
curse was on all unbehevers. 
The Soudan, enraged, ordered Sir 
Guy to be killed, but Sir Guy cut 
off his head, and made his way 
back to the camp. After this he 
traversed Emis' dominions with 
him. On their way they wit- 
nessed a fight between a dragon 
and a Uon. Guy killed the dragon, 
and the lion was so grateful that 
it followed like a dog. Emis, 
charmed with Sir Guy's bravery, 
was anxious for his wedding with 
his daughter Loret, and a day was 
fixed. Sir Guy had evidently 
forgotten for the time his love for 
Felice, but the sight of the wedding- 
ring brought it all back to him, 
and he became very ill, deferred 
the marriage, and confided to 
Heraud the cause of his illness. 
He was at a loss how to break the 
unwelcome news to Emis and 
Loret, when an incident occurred 
which made it easier. Sir Murga- 
dour killed the lion which so 
faithfully attended Sir Guy, and 
in revenge Sir Guy slew Sir 
Murgadour. As he was the em- 
peror's steward this placed Ernis 
in an unfortunate position, as the 
emperor was much more power- 
ful than he, so Sir Guy deter- 
mined to leave Constantinople 



GUY 



160 



altogether. His next adventure 
was helping a knight, Sir Thierry, 
who was in love with Osile, 
daughter of the Duke of Lorraine, 
and by the treachery of Otho of 
Pavia, had been attacked and 
dangerously wounded, Osile having 
been taken to Otho. After some 
adventures Sir Guy united the 
lovers. Not long after he heard 
that the Duke of Lorraine and Otho 
were determiued to take possession 
of the lands of Thierry's father, 
Aubry, in revenge, so he went to 
assist Thierry. He first routed the 
army of Lorraine and then turned 
upon Duke Otho's army. Otho 
had recourse to treachery. He 
sent a message to Aubry by an 
archbishop to say that if Thierry 
and OsUe appeared before the 
emperor and apologized he would 
forgive them. This ruse succeeded 
and the party were seized unarmed 
by men in ambush. Sir Heraud 
and Thierry were carried off, but 
Sir Guy escaped. Sir Thierry was 
thrown into a dungeon at Pavia, 
and Osile taken by Otho. Sir Guy, 
wandering from place to place, 
arrived at the castle of Sir Amys 
of the Mountaia, who ofiered him 
help against Otho, but Sir Guy 
considered such a plan as hopeless. 
He disguised himself and visited 
Otho with a valuable war-horse, 
only asking as reward the charge 
of Sir Thierry, whom he reviled. 
Otho appointed him Jailer, and 
soon Sir Guy made himseK known 
to Thierry. However, being over- 
heard by a felon who ran to teU. 
Duke Otho, he followed the man 
and kiUed him in the presence of 
the duke, excusing himself by 
pretending that he had attempted 
to carry food to Thierry. Sir Guy 
managed to see Osile, arranged 
with her to hasten her marriage 
with Otho, then hberated Thierry, 
and riding to meet the marriage 



GUY 

procession, MUed Otho and took 
Osile in safety to Thierry. A 
reconciliation was made with the 
Duke of Lorraine, and Thierry and 
Osile were married. Sir Guy then 
went boar-hunting, and having 
killed one huge boar he carried it 
into Flanders. Florentine, King 
of Flanders, sent his son to remon- 
strate, and Guy gave him such a 
severe blow with his horn that it 
killed the prince. He then went 
to the palace and was entertained 
by Florentine, but when the dead 
body of the prince was brought in, 
and he found it was his guest who 
MUed him, he and his attendants 
nearly slew Sir Guy, who, however, 
escaped. Soon after this he re- 
turned to England, and had 
hardly received congratulations 
from Athelstane before he heard 
of a great dragon in Northumber- 
land doing great damage. He 
killed it and carried the head to 
Athelstane. Then he went home, 
found his parents both dead, 
offered to Fehce aU he had gained 
in his travels through Christendom, 
and was married at once. It was 
only forty days after the marriage 
that Sir Guy began to think how 
much he had done for woman's 
love and how Uttle in God's 
service, so he resolved to devote 
the rest of his life to penance. 
FeHce was horrified, but could not 
prevent him from his purpose, so 
she placed a gold ring on his finger 
to remind him of her, and Sir Guy, 
dressed as a palmer, set out for the 
Holy Land. The first adventure 
he had was an encounter with a 
ferocious giant, Amiraunt of 
Ethiopia, on behalf of Earl Jonas, 
who, with his fifteen sons, had been 
warring with the Saracens. He 
slew the giant, and Jonas and his 
sons were released. Meanwhile 
Fehce had a son, the famous 
Raynbum, whom she brought up 



GUY 



i6i 



GUY 



very carefully under the tuition 
of Heraud, but he was stolen by 
some Saracen merchants, and they 
took the chUd with them to a 
heathen land under a king called 
Aragus. Aragus took a fancy to 
the child, had his education com- 
pleted, and made him his chamber- 
lain. The boy soon made himself 
famous by his prowess. Heraud 
set out to find the boy, but he was 
shipwrecked and thrown into a 
dungeon in Africa. Guy, mean- 
while, had reached Constantinople, 
where he met a pilgrim who turned 
out to be Sir Thierry who had lost 
all his land, and was being punished 
by the then Duke of Pa via, who 
thought he had killed Otho slain 
by Sir Guy. Thierry began to 
lament Sir Guy's death. Being 
weak and faint with hunger, he 
feU asleep on Sir Guy's arm. He 
had a dream which Sp Guy inter- 
preted, and he gave Thierry a 
sword and treasure. Sir Guy then 
went to the emperor and asked 
charity, and on being questioned 
told him he was blamed for punish- 
ing the innocent Thierry. He 
challenged the steward. The 
steward accepted and Sir Guy, 
donning armour, got his marvellous 
sword from Thierry. The combat 
was undecided by night. The 
steward ordered Sir Guy to be 
thrown into the sea during the 
night. This was done and Guy 
found himself floating in his bed. 
He was found by a fisherman and 
rescued, and the circumstances 
were related to the emperor. Sir 
Guy then killed the steward in 
combat, and found Thierry, who 
was restored by the emperor to all 
his possessions. Sir Guy was now 
anxious to return to England, and 
when he arrived there, he found 
that Athelstane was besieged in 
Winchester by the King of Den- 
mark, and his only hope lay in 



obtaining a champion who would 
challenge Colbrand, a Danish giant. 
In a dream Athelstane was told 
to request the help of the first 
pilgrim he met at the entrance of 
his palace. TMs pilgrim was Sir 
Guy, and Athelstane asked his 
assistance. The poet tells how 
Sir Guy said he had come to fight 
for God and to make England free, 
and how he prayed to God for Hjs 
blessing before he began the fight. 
The King of Denmark swore if his 
man fell he would never again 
harass England, and Athelstane 
that he would give up his country 
to the Danish king if his man were 
slain. It was a keen fight, and at 
one time Colbrand considered him- 
self the victor and demanded the 
king should yield. But when he 
refused to lend Guy one of his 
strong axes to fight with, Guy 
seized one of his own and struck 
off Colbrand's right arm, and then 
killed him. Guy concealed his 
identity even after the victory, 
and made the king promise not to 
reveal it till a year had passed. 
Felice had been employing her 
time in the absence of her husband 
in looking after the poor. Guy 
visited the castle in his pilgrim's 
dress, and received kindness from 
her, and seeing her so well em- 
ployed he did not make himself 
known to her, but went into a 
hermitage in the Forest of Ardennes 
with only a page as attendant. 
Warned by an angel of the near 
approach of death, he sent the 
gold ring to Fehce, and begged her 
to come and give directions for his 
burial. She came to find him 
dying, remained with him to the 
end and was buried in the same 
grave fifteen days after. 

Not only is Guy a knight-errant 
and slayer of noisome monsters, 
the doom of the wanderer presses 
heavily upon him, and, his bride 

M 



GUY 



162 



GUY 



once won, he must leave her for 
the Holy Land. The old tale of 
Odysseiis and Penelope is repeated, 
save for a spri nkli ng of Christian 
sentiment. His bride follows him 
shortly to the tomb. He is the 
sun-hero, and she the sunset which 
cannot linger long when the sun 
has gone to his rest. 

GUY, SIR (1). {Vide " Bevis of 
Hampton.") Father of Sir Bevis. 
He married a daughter of the King 
of Scotland who was much younger 
than he, and who got her lover, 
Sir Murdour, to Mil her husband 
when he was out hunting. {Vide 
also " Guy of Warwick.") 

GUY, SIR (2). {Vide "Bevis of 
Hampton " and " Guy of War- 
wick.") Son of Bevis of Hampton. 
Bom and baptized in a forest and 
brought up by a forester, he was 
eventually made successor to King 
Ermyn. He fought bravely for 
his father at a battle fought in 
London. 

GUY, SIR (3). {Vide "Sir Ferum- 
bras.") Duke of Burgundy. One 
of the twelve French peers im- 
prisoned in Laban's palace at 
Aigremor. He was taken prisoner 
in a sally, and would have been 
hanged by Laban had not Roland 
rescued him. He married Floripas 
{q.v.). 

GUYOT. Sumamed the Proven9al, a 
French trouvere, from whose poem 
on the Grail legend, not now extant, 
the German poet Wolfram von 
Eschenbach {q.v.) took the plot of 
his Parzival. He was bom in the 
early part of the twelfth century, 
and flourished between 1160 and 
1180. He was a native of Anjou, 
and by his appellation of "Master " 
may be classed as a lay commoner. 
He appears to have completed his 
literary and philosophical educa 
tion in that part of the south of 



France which in his time was known 
as the Province of Saint Giles, and 
which maintained literary and 
poUtical relations with the north 
of Spain. He also studied for 
some time at Toledo in the Moorish 
schools, and this circumstance 
fully explains the Oriental colouring 
in his poem, which has led many 
scholars to beheve that the Grail 
legend had an Eastern origin. 
His long residence in and acquain- 
tance with Provence probably won 
him the literary nick-name of 
" The Proven9al," but he wrote in 
a dialect more akin to the north 
than to the south of France, as 
can be proved from the French 
words borrowed from him by 
Wolfram which are distinctly of 
the langue d'dil. The chief ex- 
ponent of the priority of Guyot as 
the first writer who cast the Grail 
legend into literary form was 
Professor Bergmann of Strasburg 
{The San Greal, Edinburgh, 1870), 
whose conclusions were traversed 
by the late Mr. Alfred Nutt. As 
these conclusions are, however, 
extremely significant, it will be 
well to summarize them. Professor 
Bergmann says that Wolfram teUs 
us that Guyot found at Toledo an 
Arabian book, written by an 
astrologer named Flegetanis, and 
containing the story of the mar- 
vellous vase called Greal, which at 
first hovered in the air, and after- 
wards, having been deposited on 
earth by angels, was guarded by 
faithful Christians. He adds, that 
Guyot made researches in the 
Latin chronicles of Brittany, 
Ireland, and France, and at last 
found the story of the Greal 
related in a chronicle of Anjou. 
This mformation, furnished by the 
German poet, does not seem to 
contain much truth. It is tme 
that Guyot, hke almost all poets 
of his time, may, to make a show 



GUY 



163 



of his erudition, have spoken of 
Flegetanis and an Arabian book 
as the source from which he drew 
some details of his poem. But 
Flegetanis can by no means be an 
Arabian proper name, and conse- 
quently all that Wolfram relates 
of this pretended personage is of 
his own or Guyot's invention. 
The name of Flegetanis might be 
the Latin transcription of Feleke- 
Daneh, a Persian compound word, 
which signifies astrologer or astro- 
nomer, and in this case it would be 
the title of an astrological work 
translated into Latin, and which 
Guyot had the opportunity of 
studying while at Toledo. How- 
ever this may be, it is beyond 
doubt that the history of the 
fable of the Greal existed neither 
in Arabian nor Spanish books nor 
in the Latin chronicles of France 
or Brittany, but owes its origin to 
Guyot, who invented and com- 
posed it with poetical eleraents, 
most of which, it is true, were 
traditional, but which he combined 
in a novel manner by connecting 
them with a philosophical idea 
which was his own, at the same 
time that it was the expression and 
the natural result of the tendencies 
and the spirit of his age. Indeed, 
in the time of Guyot, the two 
prevailing ideas of the Middle Ages, 
reUgion and feudalism, had just 
been realized in the clergy and 
knighthood. On seeing the re- 
spect and authority enjoyed by the 
Imight and the priest, one was 
naturally led to think that the 
highest human destiny would be 
to unite both quahties either in 
the priesthood or the priest-knight. 
The Church herself, temporarily 
allured by this beautiful ideal, once 
attempted to reahze it. She 
foimded the order of the Templars, 
in which, however, she intended 
the ecclesiastical element to pre- 



GUY 

ponderate over the secular ; but 
she soon had cause to repent the 
creation of an institution which 
daily showed more decided ten- 
dencies gradually to extinguish 
the sacerdotal spirit in the worldly 
splendour of chivalry. These 
tendencies were, moreover, 
favoured and sustained by the 
anti-clerical apiritof the Albigenses, 
who were very numerous in the 
south of France, where a great 
number of the richest establish- 
ments of the Templars existed. 
It was probably also under the 
influence of this spirit that Guyot, 
during his sojourn in Provence, 
conceived the idea of a sacerdotal 
chivalry and royalty, which, in 
his idea, were to be the guardians 
of the temporal and spiritual 
welfare of humanity, in the same 
manner as the Pope and the 
Cathoho clergy represented the 
kingly power and the soldiery 
which watched over the safety of 
the Church. Unable to give his- 
toric reahty to this idea, which 
appeared so beautiful to him, he 
desired at least to represent it 
through poetry. He undertook to 
show in his poem how the true 
knight, by his actions and virtues, 
renders himself worthy of the 
highest destiny which man can 
attain, that priestly kingship, 
namely, to which it was necessary 
to be called both by birth and the 
grace of God. Temporal and 
spiritual welfare, the guardianship 
of which was to be confided to a 
priestly knighthood, the poet re- 
presented under the symbol of a 
sacred vase, the limpid and trans- 
parent element, water, and by 
extension, the' vase or basin which 
contained it being, according to 
the symbols of the East and of the 
Middle Ages, images of purity and 
truth, and consequently the 
symbols of wisdom and salvation. 



GUY 



We have elsewhere dealt with 
the origin of the Grail. {Vide 
" Grail, Holy.") But it may be 
well to remark here when dealing 
with the poet who first gave the 
legend Uterary form that it is with 
a goblet or cup containing pure 
water, that the future was foretold 
in the East and in some countries 
of Europe. Poetry was repre- 
sented by the skalds of the North 
and the Breton bards under the 
symbolic form of a cup filled with 
a precious hquid ; thence the 
Scandinavian myth on the vase of 
Quasir ; thence also, among the 
Bretons and Welsh, the mysteries 
of the magic cauldron of Keridwen 
{a.b.), the goddess of poetry; and, 
lastly, the celebrated goblet of 
Djemschid, which was nothing but 
the symbol of the safety, the happi- 
ness, and the abundance which the 
people enjoyed under the reign of 
this illustrious King of Persia. It 
is perhaps the latter myth, ex- 
plained in some Arabian work, or 
that of the basin of Keridwen, 
contained in some Breton book, 
which determined Guyot to choose 
the vase as a symbol of temporal 
and spiritual welfare, the guardian- 
ship of which he intrusted to his 
priestly knighthood. In mediaeval 
Latinity the mascuUne gradalis or 
neuter gradate means vase, goblet, 
or basin. The dialects of the south 
of France having preserved the 
form of Latin words almost intact, 
only changed the mean dental d 
into the hissing dental s or z, so 
that to this day, in some parts of 
the south, a grasal (masc.) or 
a grazale (fem.) signifies a basin. 
In the dialects of Southern France 
the final consonants of the syllables 
of Latin words have been cut off 
or modified ; and consequently, 
grad-alis and grad-ale were changed 
into gra-alz and gra-al. Such, 
indeed, was the form of these 



164 GUY 

words in the Burgundian dialects, 
which formed the transition from 
the langue d'oil to the langue d'oc. 
The dialects of Picardy and Nor- 
mandy, which tended to sharpen 
the pronunciation of vowels, in- 
stead of Qraal adopted the form 
of Greal, which the Normans also 
introduced into England, and 
which Guyot employed. Guyot 
the Proven5al, a native, as we have 
said, of the duchy of Anjou, and 
consequently writing in a French 
dialect very much akin to that of 
Burgundy, found in his country 
the expression Gradl to designate 
a vase ; and what proves that he 
really employed it to designate a 
sacred vase, is the use which his 
immediate imitators, Chretien de 
Troyes and Wolfram von Eschen- 
bach, made of the same word. The 
sacred vase, or the San Greal, the 
symbol of grace and salvation, was 
placed, according to the fiction of 
Guyot, in a temple guarded by 
Kjiights Templeis or Templois. 
This name reminds us of that of 
the Templars, whom the poet 
imitated and idealized in his poem. 
The temple of the Greal was placed 
upon a mountain in the midst of 
a thick wood, which is a symbohc 
representation of the moral eleva- 
tion and the sanctity of this place, 
which no one can approach except 
by Divine favour. And even as 
Mount Meru of the Hindoos and 
Olympus of the Greeks are placed 
in the mythological poetry in a 
mysterious distance, so has our 
poet placed the mountain of the 
Greal at some considerable dis- 
tance from his country, beyond 
the Pyrenees, in Spain. For that 
reason he gave it the Catalonian 
name of Mont Salvagge (wild or 
inaccessible mountain) . The Greal, 
according to Guyot, was made of a 
wonderful stone called ExiUis, 
which had once been the most 



GUY 



165 



brilliant in the crown of the arch- 
angel Lucifer. This cup was 
brought from heaven by angels, 
and left to the care of Titurel, the 
first king of the Greal, who trans- 
mitted it to Amfortas, the second 
king, whose sister, Herzeloide, was 
the mother of Parzival, the third 
king of the San Greal. This 
genealogy of the kings of the San 
Greal commences in the East, and 
is connected with Sennabor, an 
imaginary King of Armenia ; it 
comprises fictitious names of kings 
of France and princes of Spain, and 
ends in the house of Aujou. As 
this genealogy comprises nearly 
eleven centuries, and descends to 
the epoch when Guyot hved, it 
cannot have existed previously to 
this poet, and it is more than pro- 
bable that he invented it. If, 
nevertheless, WoHram von Eschen- 
bach mentions that Guyot found 
it in a chronicle of Anjou, this 
indication, which doubtless was 
furnished to him by the romance 
of the Angevine poet, only proves 
to us that the latter wanted to 
exalt his native country, the duchy 
of Anjou, in certain details of his 
poem. Though the story of the 
San Greal was sufficiently interest- 
ing by itself, and above aU by the 
idea on which it was based, Guyot, 
whose chief aim was not to instruct, 
but to amuse the reader, wished to 
enrich his romance with an addi- 
tional poetical element in order to 
make it more attractive. The 
favourite reading of those times 
consisted of knightly histories and 
adventures ; and, precisely at that 
epoch, the tales of King Arthur's 
adventures and those of the Knights 
of the Round Table were spreading 
all over France, and fully satisfied 
the taste of the century for all that 
was adventurous, marvellous, and 
fantastical. Exactly as at the 
same epoch in Germany the poets 



GUY 

rejected the national epic subjects 
for foreign ones, so were the Breton 
tales preferred in France to the 
national traditions regarding 
Charlemagne and the twelve peers 
of Prance, and that the more 
willingly that Breton poesy 
actually did surpass all others by 
its marvellous and highly imagi- 
native fictions. It is, therefore, 
principally on that account that 
Guyot connected the story of the 
San Greal, not with the epic cycle 
of Charlemagne, as he might have 
done, but with that of Arthur and 
the Knights of the Round Table. 
Amongst the Breton knights who 
broke lances with aU comers, and 
boldly fought with dragons, giants, 
and against the most insurmount- 
able obstacles, we chiefly distin- 
guish three : Gawain, Geraint and 
Peredur. It is principally from 
the traditions regarding the last 
of the three that Guyot borrowed a 
great many of the incidents with 
which he composed the history of 
Parzival, the principal hero of his 
romance. It will be sufficient to 
point out a few striking analogies 
which exist between the history of 
Parzival and the Breton or Welsh 
tale of Peredur. It is true that 
the Peredur tale which is found 
among the Mahinogion or tradi- 
tional tales contained in the Red 
Book of Hergest, was not written 
till the fourteenth century ; but 
the foundation of it is older, and 
was probably known to Guyot 
through the traditions spread in 
Armorica, a province adjoining the 
duchy of Anjou. The proof that 
they were not unknown to him, is 
that the history of the youth of 
Parzival is composed of the same 
incidents as the history of the 
youth of Peredur. The details 
about the castle of the sick old 
iman, and the two uncles of Peredur 
were reproduced more or less 



GUY 



i66 



GUY 



faithfully in the romance of Parzi- 
val. Lastly, the castle of the king 
of the Greal which figures in the 
poems of Guyot corresponds to the 
marvellous castle of the Breton 
tale. One might even be tempted 
to think that Guyot had borrowed 
from the Breton traditions the 
very history of the San Greal, 
since, in the tale of Peredur, a 
basin or a Greal is made mention 
of, and even the name of Peredur 
might be explained as meaning 
" seeker of the cup," or " searcher 
after the Greal." But this illusion 
disappears when we consider that 
the cup mentioned has not the 
shghtest relation to the idea of the 
San Greal, and plays in the tale 
but an accessory or accidental 
part. If, therefore, the name of 
Peredur really signifies seeker of 
the basin, it is equally a fortuitous 
circumstance, since it is caused 
neither by the sense nor the details 
of the tale. This name was 
probably very common among the 
Bretons, and if it had the significa- 
tion which is given to it, doubtless 
related and aUuded to the case or 
basin of the goddess Keridwen. 
Peredur was the name of the chief 
of the Guenedocians, who dis- 
tinguished himself at the Battle of 
Ardderyd, and who, at a later 
period, transformed by tradition 
into a Knight of the Round Table, 
became the hero whose adventures 
and great feats are celebrated in 
the Welsh text referred to. It is 
therefore evident that the history 
of the San Greal did not exist 
among the Bretons, or Welsh, and 
is entirely of Guyot's invention, 
who borrowed nothing from Breton 
traditions save, perhaps, the idea 
of representing the salvation of 
mankind by the symbol of a cup — 
an idea which may have been 
suggested to him by the myth on 
the vase of Keridwen. Far from 



borrowing the matter of his poem 
from foreign countries, Guyot only 
connected the story, which he had 
invented, with the Breton tradi- 
tions of the cycles of Arthur, so 
that the fiction of the Greal forms 
indeed the accessory, but neverthe- 
less the most important part of his 
romance. Guyot skilfuUy managed 
to unite these two elements of 
different origin without, however, 
confounding them. Thus the 
Templois, who bear the dignified 
character of a priestly knighthood, 
are clearly distinct in Ms poem 
from the Knights of the Round 
Table, who only represent the 
worldly or common chivalry. 
More than that, Guyot did not 
simply imitate the Breton tradi- 
tions, he embelhshed them and 
gave them more interest, endowing 
them with a meaning at once more 
poetical and more philosophical. 
Thus, to quote a few instances, the 
silence which Peredur, according 
to the Breton tale, keeps in pre- 
sence of the marvels he sees in the 
palace of the sick old man, is 
simply caused by the vow he had 
made, to remain dumb until he 
should have obtained the hand of 
Angarad. In Guyot's romance, 
on the contrary, Parzival's silence 
arises from deeper causes, and 
forms, as it were, the knot of the 
whole fiction of the Greal. The 
Breton tale speaks of a bleeding 
lance which was presented to 
Peredur, and was probably in- 
tended to remind him to avenge 
the murder of his uncle and 
nephews, who had been treach- 
erously assassinated. And in 
reahty the lance is the sj^mbol of 
protection, and a bleeding body 
that of an appeal for revenge. 
The bleeding lance was therefore 
likely to indicate that the instru- 
ment of protection had been 
violated, and will consequently 



GUY 



bleed until revenge shall have been 
taken. Guyot, giving a more 
moral and deeper meaning to the 
bleeding lance, connects with it one 
of his chief poetical fictions. By a 
play upon words, which was only 
possible in French, the old sick king 
who in the Breton tradition is sur- 
named the fisherman (pecheur) 
because he whiled away his troubles 
in fishing with a line, is transformed 
into a king sinner {pecheur). His 
sin, according to Guyot, consists 
in his having fought for a sensual 
love against a paynim prince by 
whose lance he was wounded as a 
punishment for his fault. This 
lance will bleed until the king shall 
have been cured of his wound, or 
until his sins shall have been 
expiated. The Breton tale also 
mentions a magic sword, which 
the kingly fisher gave to Peredur 
as a symbol of sovereignty and 
strength. This sword broke in 
the hands of the knight, which 
signified that he had not yet the 
strength required to be worthy of 
sovereignty. But, according to 
Guyot's fiction, Parzival only re- 
ceives this sword when already 
broken, and as it is only with this 
sword that he can conquer the 
kingdom of the Greal ; the poet 
represents this circumstance as 
almost an insurmountable obstacle, 
which the hero nevertheless suc- 
ceeds in overcoming. It is thus 
that Guyot managed to give to 
certain details, void of meaning in 
the Breton tradition, a moral and 
philosophical signification. On 
the whole, the romance of the 
Angevin poet, though destined, 
like all romances of chivalry, to 
amuse noble lords and ladies, bore a 
character somewhat philosophical, 
and on that account we must 
not be astonished if certain of 
Guyot's ideas are not in agree- 
ment with the orthodoxy of his 



167 GUY 

century. This poet did not 
share in the hatred against the 
Mohammedans so energetically 
manifested throughout Christen- 
dom during the Crusades. The 
Templois do not turn their arms 
against the infidels ; on the con- 
trary, their intercourse with them 
is that of friends, companions in 
arms, allies and relations. This 
tolerance, which in the eyes of 
orthodoxy probably seemed cri- 
minal, appears to have been the 
fruit of the sojourn which Guyot 
had made at Toledo, in the midst 
of the Mohammedan Arabs. We 
must also remark that the Templois, 
though Christians, rather resemble 
an association formed without the 
pale of the Church than a Catholic 
community. Moreover, the 
apostles, saints, angels, and cere- 
monies of the Church, which 
always occupy the first rank in the 
rehgious poems of the Middle Ages, 
do not occupy so important a 
place in Guyot's poem. These 
heterodox and somewhat anti- 
clerical tendencies were perhaps 
contracted by the poet in the south 
of France, where he must frequently 
have come into contact with 
Albigenses and Templars ; and it 
is very probable on account of this 
conformity of views with the 
sectarians of the south that he 
received from his contemporaries 
the surname or nickname of 
" Proven9al." Eastly, we must 
attribute to the heterodoxy of 
Guyot the loss or the destruction 
of his romance, which was likely 
to have the same fate as the books 
of the Albigenses and the works 
of the Templars. Guyot's romance, 
however, spread rapidly, and 
attracted the attention of a large 
number of readers in France, 
England and Germany. What 
proves this is, that it was imitated 
in those countries shortly after its 



GWA 



i68 



GWI 



publication, and that the history 
of the Greal soon formed a kind of 
epic tradition, which, as such, 
was modified and developed by 
several French and foreign poets. 
Thus Chretien, finding in Guyot's 
poem the history of Percival, who, 
without being a Knight of the 
Round Table, was nevertheless in 
relation with it, took this episode 
and treated it separately, con- 
sulting, besides, as for his other 
romances, the original Armorican 
traditions. This Champenois 
trouvfere died before he had 
finished his romance of Perceval le 
Gallois, which, however, is extant 
even now with the continuation 
composed by different poets. What 
proves that Chretien imitated the 
romance of Guyot is, first, the name 
of Perceval which he kept for his 
hero, and which is nothing less than 
the Champenois pronunciation of 
the name of Parzival, which he 
found in Guyot's poem. This 
name, invented by Guyot, is 
doubtless derived from farisi-fal, 
a compound Persian word signi- 
fying " ignorant knight," and 
alludes to the ignorance of young 
Parzival, who, in consequence of 
the extreme solicitude of his 
mother to shelter him from every 
danger, had been deprived of all 
knightly education. Chretien de 
Troyes, unacquainted with the 
foreign origin of this word, ex- 
plains it as signifying " one who 
pierces or wanders through vales 
to seek adventures." 

GWARTHLEO. {Vide " Gododin.") 
A Cymric warrior, " young, rich, 
ever pressing forward." He was 
slain at the Battle of Cattraeth. 

GWAWL, In Welsh romance, the 
rival of Pwyll {q.v.) for Rhiannon's 
(q.v.) hand. For this pretension 
he was decoyed into a bag and 
baited as a badger. 



GWEN. (Vide " Gododin.") Father 
of Gwenabwy. A Cymric warrior 
who was slain at the Battle of 
Cattraeth. " Over the lovely, 
slender, blood-stained body " of 
Gwen, knelt his onlyson, Gwenaby. 

GWENABY. (Vide " Gododin.") Son 
of Gwen. A Cymric warrior slain 
at the Battle of Cattraeth. " He 
was a mighty and fierce dragon." 
" His land should not be ploughed, 
though it might become wild." 

GWERN. In Welsh romance, son of 
Matholwch and Branwen {q.v.). 
When still a child he was made 
Bang of Ireland, but his uncle 
Evnissyen immediately cast him 
into a fire. 

GWION BACH. In Welsh romance 
and myth, son of Gwreang. He 
was put by Ceridwin {q.v.) to stir 
the magic cauldron of inspiration 
and science, the contents of which 
were to be drunk by her son ; but 
three drops of the liquor having 
lighted on G'ndon's fingers he 
sucked them and thereby became 
gifted with supernatural sight. 
Then he fled, pursued by the 
jealous mother. The pursued and 
pursuer metamorphosed themselves 
into a hare and a greyhound, a fish 
and an otter, a bird and a hawk, a 
grain of wheat and a black hen, 
which ultimately swallowed the 
wheat. Eater Gwion became the 
child of Ceridwin, but being averse 
to slay him on account of his 
beauty, she put him in a bag and 
cast ham into the sea. After some 
time he was drawn out by Elphin, 
son of Cwyddno {q.v.), and was 
caUed Tahesin {q.v.) (Radiant 
Brow). The cauldron, deprived of 
the sacred hquor, now contained 
only poison, which burst the 
vessel and killed the horses of 
Gwyddno Garanhir. Compare the 
metamorphoses of Ceridwen and 



GWR 

Gwion Bach with that of the 
Queen of Beauty and the Jinn, son 
of the daughter of Ehhs, in the 
tale of The Second Calendar in the 
Arabian Nights' Entertainments. 

GWRUELING. (Fic^e "Gododin.") A 
gigantic Cymric warrior. He was 
slain at the Battle of Cattraeth. 

GWYDDNO GARANHIR. {Vide 

" Gwion Bach.") 

GWYLGET. (Vide " Gododin.") A 
chief of Gododin, who joined in the 
banquet of Mynyddang, and fell 
in the Battle of Cattraeth. 



169 



HAG 



GWYNN AP NUDD. A Cymric 
deity who appears in Welsh 
romance, hkened to Finn (Gaelic) 
and to Odin (Norse). He was 
King of Hades, and fought every 
May-day until the day of doom 
with Gwythur ap Greidawl for 
Creudylad, daughter of Llud. 
This myth evidently represents the 
contest between winter and summer 
for the fertile earth. Later we 
find him figuring as the King of 
the Fairies. 

GWYTHUR AP GREIDAWL. {Vide 
" Gwynn ap Nudd.") 



H 



HACON, YARL. ( Vide " Burnt Njal.") 
Heathen King of Norway, and 
predecessor of the Christian King 
Olaf. 

HADEBURC. {Vide " Nibelungen- 
lied.") One of the two mer women 
whom Hagen found bathing by the 
Danube and whose garments he 
seized, in order to force them to 
prophesy concerning the future. 
She foretold good, but falsely, 
knowing the future of the Burgun- 
dians to be doomed. {Vide also 
" Sigelint.") The seizure of the 
garments or " swan-dress " of a 
valkyr, nixie, or wise woman, was 
generally supposed to enforce her 
advice or assistance. 

HAERING. {Vide "Grettir Saga.") 
A nimble chmber whom Thorbiorn 
Angle {q.v.) took with him to the 
island of Drangey in order to slay 
Grettir. But his wily attempt was 
noticed by Grettir's brother, 
niugi, who chased Haering over 
the cliff. 

HAGEN (1). The first portion of 
Ettmiiller's division of the Oudrun 



Lay {q.v.). Hagen, known as 
" Wild " Hagen, was the son of 
Sigebant and Uta, King and 
Queen of Ireland. At the age of 
seven he was carried off by a 
griffin, over the sea to its nest. 
Escaping from its young, Hagen 
discovered three little girls in the 
same pUght as himself — Hilda, 
daughter of the King of India, 
Hildburg, daughter of the Lord of 
Portugal, the third being the 
daughter of the Lord of Iceland. 
For many years they Uved as best 
they might, Hagen's strength 
growing well-nigh superhuman, till 
at length a passing ship rescued 
them. Its master, the Count of 
Carady, had suffered loss through 
King Sigebant, and, on learning 
who Hagen was, ordered him to be 
taken to Carady as a hostage. 
Hagen (wearing a full suit of 
armour which he had found some 
years previously on the body of a 
shipwrecked warrior east up on 
the shore), fought and killed 
thirty of the count's men, and 
steered the ship for Ireland, where 
he made himself known to his 



HAG 

parents, and great rejoicings took 
place in the land. Later he 
married the Princess Hilda, and his 
father abdicated in his favour. A 
daughter was bom to him, named 
Hilda. She was very beautiful, 
but Hagen was too proud to give 
her to any of her many suitors. 
Among these was Hettel, King of 
Hegelingen, and the account of his 
wooing and Hagen's share in events 
forms Ettmiiller's second portion 
of the Chidrun Lay (q.v. under 
heading " Hagen and Hettel"). 

HAGEN (2). Of Tronje. (Vide 
"Dietrich of Berne.") He was 
handed over to the Franks as 
hostage to Etzel or Attila, but 
effected his escape. {Vide also 
" Walther of Aquitaine.") 

HAGEN (3). (Fi&"Nibelungen- 
hed.") The brother of Dankwart, 
and uncle to Gunther. He plotted 
along with Brunhilde against 
Siegfried, whom he slew treach- 
erously at her instigation. Kriem- 
hild (q.v.), Siegfried's wife, after her 
marriage with Etzel or Attila, 
a,venged her husband's murder by 
trapping and eventually slaying 
him. But not until after he and 
his followers had made dire 
execution at her husband's court. 

HAGEN AND HETTEL. Second divi- 
sion of the Gudrun Lay (q.v.). For 
first portion, see Hagen. Hettel, 
King of HegeUngen in Ireland, 
hearing of the beauty of Hilda of 
Ireland (q.v.), daughter of Hagen, 
determined to wed her, and after 
discussion with his counsellors sent 
ambassadors to Hagen, chief of 
whom were Morung of Friesland 
(q.v.), Horant of Denmark (q.v.), 
Yrolt of Ortland (q.v.), Wate of 
Sturmen (q.v.), and Frute of Dane- 
land (q.v.). They pretended to 
have been exiled by Hettel, and 
Hagen received them hospitably. 



170 HAL 

Horant, by his marvellous sweet 
singing, was specially instrumental 
in winning Hilda's heart for Hettel, 
telling her that at Hettel 's court 
were many singers finer than him- 
self. Having made their plans, 
the ambassadors told Hagen they 
must return home, as Hettel was 
now wilhng to be reconciled to 
them. Before departing they in- 
vited the king and his court to 
come down to the shore to see their 
treasures, and having manoeuvred 
that Hilda should be separated 
from her parents during the in- 
spection, Hettel's messengers leapt 
with her (a willing captive) into 
their ships, and, reinforced by 
armed men who had been con- 
cealed in the vessel, they escaped 
from Hagen's fury, and sailed 
rapidly for Daneland. Hettel re- 
ceived his bride joyfully, but at 
the wedding-feast, Hagen and his 
men, who had followed in pursuit, 
came in sight, and a fierce struggle 
took place, in which Hettel was 
wounded. Wate and Hagen en- 
gaged in single conflict, when 
Hettel, his wounds bound, sug- 
gested peace, as both sides seemed 
equal in strength, and the dead 
lay everywhere. Hagen finally 
agreed and a complete reconcilia- 
tion was effected, Wate producing 
"a good root " to heal the wounded. 
Hettel and Hilda entertained 
Hagen and his men royally for 
twelve days, when Hagen returned 
thoroughly satisfied with his 
daughter's marriage. Hettel and 
Hilda lived in honour and happi- 
ness, there being born to them a 
son Ortwein, and a daughter 
Gudrun, the story of whose Ufe 
forms Ettmiiller's third division 
of the Gudrun Lay. (Vide 
" Gudrun.") 

HALFDAN. In the Icelandic saga 
of Frithjof (q.v.), the bright and 



HAL 



peace-loving son of King Bele, the 
friend of Thorsten, Frithjof 's father. 

HALLGERDA. ( Vide " Burnt Njal.") 
, Daughter of Hanskuld ; wife of 
Gunnar {q.v.). Gunnar had but 
newly returned from abroad, where 
he had acquired much fame and 
fortune, when, wandering among 
the booths at the Thing, he was 
accosted by a beautiful woman. 
The outcome of the conversation 
was that Gunnar sought the lady's 
hand from her father, and the two 
were married. But Hanskuld had 
warned the lover that his lady-love 
was older than he, and that she 
had, in revenge for a blow, 
encompassed the death of two 
husbands. Hallgerda brought 
much misery upon Gunnar, as she 
was at bitter feud with the wife of 
his dearest friend Njal. And 
having received a blow from her 
angry husband, on the occasion of 
her theft from OtkeU's store, she 
never forgot the insult ; but in 
Gunnar's direst need refused, with 
a sneer, to lend her assistance. He 
was slain by his foes, and she was 
driven by her mother-in-law to 
seek a home elsewhere. 

HALLMUND. ( Vide " Grettir Saga.") 
The cave-dweller who guarded one 
end of a pass, while Grettir de- 
fended himself at the other against 
the men of Thorir of Garth (q.v.). 
For some time afterwards the 
Icelandic hero lived with Hall- 
mund, who met his death at the 
hands of Grim {q.v. 2), whose fish 
he stole. 

HAM. (Vide "Frithjof Saga.") A 
Norwegian storm-fiend in the form 
of an eagle with black wings. 
Helgi (q.v.) had sent her with the 
bear-like sea-witch Heyd to 
swallow up Frithjof (q.v.) as he 
sailed for the island of Yarl 
Angantyr (q.v.). But Frithjof 



171 HAM 

drove straight for the whale upon 
which the fiends rode, and they 
were left tossing upon the waves 
until the sea- weed entangled them. 
Then the storm subsided. 

HAMLET. In the days of Rorik, 
Bang of Denmark, Gervendill was 
Governor of Jutland, and was 
succeeded by his sons Horvendill 
and Feng. Horvendill, on his 
return from a Viking expedition, 
in which he had slain Koll, King 
of Norway, married Gerutha, 
Rorik's daughter, who bore him a 
son Amleth. But Feng, out of 
jealousy, murdered Horvendill, 
and persuaded Gerutha to become 
his wife, on the plea that he had 
committed the crime for no other 
reason than to avenge her of a 
husband by whom she had been 
hated. Amleth, afraid of sharing 
his father's fate, pretended to be 
imbecile, but the suspicion of 
Feng put him to various tests 
which are related in detail. Among 
other things they sought to en- 
tangle him with a young girl, his 
foster-sister, but his cunning saved 
him. When, however, Amleth 
slew an eavesdropper hidden, like 
Polonius, in his mother's room, 
and destroyed all traces of the deed, 
Feng was assured that the young 
man's madness was feigned. 
Accordingly he despatched him to 
England in company with two 
attendants, who bore a letter 
enjoining the king of the country 
to put him to death. Amleth 
surmised the purport of their 
instructions, and secretly altered 
the message on their wooden tablets 
to the effect that the king should 
put the attendants to death and 
give Amleth his daughter in 
marriage. After marrying the 
princess, Amleth returned at the 
end of a year to Denmark. Of 
the wealth he had accumulated he 



HAM 



took with him only certain hollow 
sticks filled with gold. He arrived 
in time for a funeral feast, held to 
celebrate his supposed death. 
During the feast he plied the 
courtiers with wine, and executed 
his vengeance during their drunken 
sleep by fastening down over them 
the wooUen hangings of the hall 
with pegs he had sharpened during 
his feigned madness, and then 
setting fire to the palace. After a 
long harangue to the people he 
was proclaimed king. Returning 
to England for his wife, he found 
that his father-in-law and Feng 
had been pledged to avenge the 
other's death. The EngUsh king, 
unwiUing personally to carry out 
his pledge, sent Amleth as proxy 
wooer for the hand of a terrible 
Scottish Queen Hermuthruda, who 
had put all former wooers to death, 
but fell in love with Amleth. On 
his return to England, his first 
wife, whose love proved stronger 
than her resentment, told him of 
her father's intended revenge. In 
the battle which followed Amleth 
won the day by setting up those 
who had been slain the day before 
armed with stakes, and thus terrify- 
ing the enemy. He then returned 
with his two wives to Jutland, where 
he had to encounter the enmity 
of Wiglek, whom Hermuthruda 
married. 

In his work on the semi- 
mythical monarchs of Denmark, 
Saxo-Grammaticus teUs the ro- 
mantic story of Hamlet or Amleth, 
from which Shakespeare obtained 
the plot of his immortal tragedy. 

HAMUND. {Vide " The Lay of the 
Volsungs.") Sonof Sigmund(g'.«.) 
begotten on Borghild {q.v.), and 
brother to Helgi {q.v.). 

HANSKULD (1). {Vide " Burnt Njal.") 
Son of Thrain {q.v.), husband of 
HUdegunna {q.v.). Hated by Mord 



172 HAR 

{q.v.) on account of his rivalry in 
the priesthood, he was foully slain 
one morning in his field by Mord 
and Njal's sons. This murder 
brought about the burning of Njal 
and his household. 

HANSKULD (2). Father of Hall- 
gerda {q.v.). 

HARDRE. ("Flowery -haired.") (Ficfe 
" Garin the Lorrainer.") One of 
King Pepin's older counsellors. 
He brought up Garin and Bego 
along with his two sons, Fremont 
and WiUiam of Montchn. He was 
killed by Hemais of Orleans when 
he did battle with Garin. 

HARDRED. (Legend of Beowulf.) 
Son of Hygelak and Hygd, King 
and Queen of Grothland {q.v.). 
Beowulf acted as regent for him. 
( Vide ' ' Beowulf . " ) After becoming 
king, he gave sanctuary to Ean- 
mund and Eadzils, the rebeUious 
sons of Ohtere, King of Sweden, but 
was slain by Eanmund, whom 
Hardred had advised to make 
peace with his father. 

HART MANN VON DER AUE. A High 

German poet, who is supposed to 
have lived about the end of the 
twelfth century. He was of gentle 
if not actually noble birth, while 
it is probable that his education 
was fairly good, for his youth was 
spent in a monastery, and while 
sojourning there he assimilated 
ascetic ideals which clung to him 
with varying degrees of tenacity 
throughout the rest of his life. 
On completing his studies with the 
monks he passed into the service — 
in what capacity is not recorded — 
of a nobleman whose domain was 
known as Aue, a place which has 
been identified with Obemau on 
the Neckar, and subsequently he 
went to Palestine along with a 
band of German crusaders. The 
date of his death is uncertain, but 



HAR 



Gottfried von Strassburg, writing 
in 1210, mentions him as still alive 
at that time ; while in a poem by 
Heinrich von der Turlin, Diu 
Krone, written about 1220, he is 
mourned for as dead. 

Hartmann was a voluminous 
writer. He wrote two long poems 
dealing with the Arthurian legends, 
Erec and Ewein, deriving his 
matter in either case from the 
French of Chretien de Troyes ; while 
it is likely that another lengthy 
metrical romance from Hartmann's 
pen, Gregorius, was also drawn in 
considerable measure from French 
sources. In addition to these he 
wrote a host of lyrics, the majority 
of them informed by deep rehgious 
ardour ; but the poem whereby 
he is chiefly remembered is Der 
Arme Heinrich (" Poor Henry "), 
which recounts how one smitten 
with leprosy was cured of his 
disease through the heroism of a 
young girl, who sacrificed her own 
life to save him. The poem is 
manifestly based on fact, while it 
is generally thought, indeed, that 
the incident occurred in the family 
the poet himself served. The 
bulk of Hartmann's work is 
of rather a didactic order. He 
strove to imbue the rough knights 
of his time with a moral and 
rehgious spirit, but despite his 
ardour in this way he hardly ever 
failed to attain genuine Uterary 
merit, and his poems have a degree 
of grace and finish not commonly 
found in mediaeval German verse. 
He has always been popular, and 
the story of his Arme Heinrich has 
been re-told by several modem 
poets, notably Longfellow and 
Rossetti ; while seldom have his 
writings been out of print for 
any length of time. The best 
complete edition of them is one 
issued at Leipsic in 1891, while 
Der Arme Heinrich was edited 



173 HAV 

with English notes by Robertson 
in 1895. 

HARTMUT. Bang of Ormany. {Vide 
" Gudrun's Lay " and " Gudrun.") 
Son of King Ludwig and Queen 
Gerlinte, brother of Ortrun. 
Married Hildeburg. He was an 
unsuccessful suitor of Gudrun, 
attempting first to seek to win her 
by force, but later was persuaded 
to carry her off to Ormany, aided 
by his father and his men. He 
saves Gudrun from the sea (vide 
" Ludwig "), and for many years 
seeks with unwavering devotion to 
win her as his willing bride, but in 
vain. He fights valiantly and 
nobly in the struggle with Herwig's 
rescuing force, being almost slain 
by Wate (q.v.) and rescued by 
Herwig at Gudrun's request for 
his sister Ortrun's sake. Later, 
to please Gudrun and win her 
friendship and to conclude peace, 
he, at her request, weds Hilde- 
burg. 

HAVELOK THE DANE. The first 
complete English romance extant, 
translated from the French by 
Geoffrey Gaimar (q.v.), an Anglo- 
Norman trouvere who flourished 
about the middle of the twelfth 
century. But the French MS. 
from which he took it was certainly 
not its original form, as it un- 
doubtedly sprang from Anglo- 
Danish sources. The translator 
states in the beginning of the tale 
that he had it from a Breton lay, 
but this Breton form appears to 
have been merely intermediary. 
The tale recounts how Athelwold, 
King of England, feehng death 
draw near, was mightily troubled 
concerning the future of his infant 
daughter. CaUing his earls about 
him, he requested them to choose 
one of their number as a regent. 
Their choice lighted on Earl God- 
rch of Cornwall, who swore to 



HAV 



174 



protect the princess and her throne 
until she was of the age of twelve, 
when he would find her for husband 
the best man in England. Athel- 
wold died, the earl received from 
aU an oath of fidelity to the 
princess until her twelfth year, 
and established law and order 
throughout the land. The princess 
waxed very beautiful, and in time 
Earl Godrich thought to give her 
to his own son. So he took the 
princess, whose name was Golde- 
burg, from Winchester, and shut 
her up in the Castle of Dover, 
poorly fed and thinly clad. Birka- 
beyn. King of Denmark, being in 
like case to Athelwold, a dying 
king with three young childxen, 
a son and two daughters, made his 
chief adviser Godard, swear to 
protect Denmark and the babes 
until the boy reached the age of 
knighthood. But Godard took 
the children, Havelok, Swanborow 
and Helfedl, and shut them up 
where they pined for cold and 
hunger. He slew the little girls, 
and told a fisherman to cast Have- 
lok into the sea. The fisherman 
took Havelok home in a bag, but 
he and his wife were so startled by 
the light which emanated from his 
mouth that they became his 
thraUs. The fisherman. Grim, told 
Godard that Havelok was drowned 
and with the boy and his own 
children and wife embarked on his 
boat and was carried by a north 
wind to the coast of England. 
They landed at lindeseye in the 
Humber, where he built a hut for 
himself and family, and gave the 
place his name, Grimsby. Grim 
made a living as a fisherman, and, 
when twelve years old, Havelok 
decided to assist him, sending the 
fish Grim caught to Lincoln. A 
great famine befell the land, and 
hunger stared the Uttle family in 
the face. Havelok was such a 



HAV 

mighty eater that fish alone would 
not feed him, so his foster-father 
cut him a garment out of the sail 
of the boat, and sent him to 
Lincoln to seek his fortime. 
Hearing a cry of "porters, porters," 
he elbowed his way through a 
crowd and upsetting them, was 
employed to carry the Earl of 
Cornwall's meat to the castle. He 
was engaged as scullion by the cook 
there because of his strength. At 
the Lincoln games he overcame aU 
at putting the stone, and his 
strength and meekness became 
proverbial throughout England. 
Godrich, hearing of it, resolved to 
wed Havelok to the Princess 
Goldeburg and make him his tool 
to degrade the princess from her 
queenly right to possess England, 
as he had sworn to Athelwold to 
give his daughter to " the best man 
in England." Goldeburg refused 
to be wed save to a king's son, but 
with threats Godrich compelled 
them to marry. Going to Grimsby, 
Havelok found that Grim was 
dead, but received homage from 
his three sons, who manfully 
served both him and his wife. In 
the night, as Goldeburg lay sorrow- 
ing over her hard lot, she espied 
a bright fight issuing from her 
husband's mouth. She also saw a 
noble cross of red gold upon his 
shoulder, and heard the voice of 
an angel say that Havelok was a 
king's son and heir, and should 
have all England and Denmark. 
Havelok on his part dreamt that 
he was lord of the two countries. 
Goldeburg counselled him to return 
to Denmark at once, taking mth 
him Grim's three sons, Robert, 
WiUiam and Hugh. Arrived in 
Denmark, they asked leavejof XJbbe, 
a great earl, to trade there, and 
received permission to do so. 
Their lodging was attacked by 
sixty stout thieves, but Havelok, 



HAV 



175 



tearing up the doorpost for, a 
weapon, made great slaughter. 
But, wounded in twenty places, 
the brothers rushed to his aid, and 
slew the robbers who remained. 
Ubbe had Havelok taken to his 
own castle to cure his wounds, and 
going into Havelok's chamber, 
perceived the bright light pro- 
ceeding from his mouth. He then 
noticed Havelok's Ukeness to King 
Birkabeyn, and fell at his feet, 
swearing fealty. Ubbe summoned 
all his dependents, and telling them 
of Godard's treachery, did homage 
to Havelok. Godard was soon at 
bay, with the whole of Denmark 
arrayed against him, and he was 
taken and hanged. Havelok made 
his three foster-brothers barons, 
and gave Ubbe the lands of Godard. 
To Grim's memory he built a fair 
priory at Grimsby. Godrich of 
Cornwall, hearing of Havelok's 
good fortime, became alarmed, and 
gathered all his forces at Lincoln. 
A great battle was fought at 
Grimsby. Havelok encountering 
Godrich, struck off his sword-hand, 
and sent him in fetters to the 
queen. The EngHshmen did 
homage to Goldeburg as Queen 
of England, and cried out that 
Godrich should be hanged. By 
judgment of his peers he was 
burnt at the stake. Havelok 
enriched all who had served him, 
and with Goldeburg reigned 
in England sixty years. They 
had fifteen sons and daughters, 
whereof all became kings and 
queens. 

The poem is written in octo- 
syllabic couplets with no additional 
syllables except an occasional 
double rhyme and some, though 
with slight, traces of alliteration. 
The EngHsh is good of the period. 
Havelok is connected with a very 
wide range of myth, etymologically 
and otherwise. He is one of the 



HAV 

" fatal children " who are born to 
be kings, and to destroy those who 
keep them out of their rightful 
inheritance, and there is, therefore, 
only one maiden in the world, who 
may be his wife. The light of 
kingship or power shines from 
Havelok as it does from the heads; 
of Servius Tullius and ilisculapius. 
Like the Great Lord in the Gaehc 
legend, or Renouart in the Charle- 
magne romances, he is bound to 
serve in the kitchen for a space, 
from which he soon emerges as a 
mighty man of his hands. Golde- 
burg is disgusted with the fisher's 
abode of her husband, as are the 
princesses in German or Norse 
legend who espouse King Thrush- 
beard or King Hacon Grizzlebeard. 
In the French version the name of 
Goldeburg is translated as Argen- 
tile, and Havelok has become 
Havelok Curan. In Warner's later 
poem, Albion's England, we have 
these characteristics presented to 
us, and Curan in order to win 
Argentile, becomes a scuUion in 
the house of Ethil, who compels 
her to marry Curan for motives 
similar to those which led Godric 
to insist that Goldeburg should 
wed Havelok. Curan is the 
Danish hero whom the Angles 
designated Anlaf-cwiran, and we 
discover that Anlaf is identical 
with Havelok, whose story, as 
furnishing groundwork for the 
claim of the Danes through him to 
England, is connected with the 
story of Guy of Warwick (q.v.). 
The Havelok further presents a Unk 
with the saga of Beowulf (q.v.) as 
bearing a name which is only a 
modification of Hygelac, one of 
the heroes of that myth. And 
when we find Anlaf Latinized into 
Amlethus we recognize a name 
famihar to us all — that of Hamlet. 
In whom we have another dis- 
possessed prince. 



HAV 

HAVGAN. Rival of Arawn {q.v.), a 
king of the British Celtic Hades. 
He was mortally wounded by 
Pwyll {q.v.). 

HAYMON. {Vide "Four Sons of 
Aymon.") 

HEBIS, SIR. A knight of Ireland, 
mentioned in Arthurian romance 
in the incident of Tristram's visit 
to King Anguish under the guise 
of a harper. {Vide " Morte 
d'Arthur.") 

HECTOR DE MARES. A knight 
alluded to in the Queste del Graal. 
He meets with Gauvain, and it is 
foretold to both that they cannot 
behold the Grail for which they 
search, so poor are they in faith. 
On one occasion he fought with 
Perceval so fiercely that both were 
near death. But an angel ap- 
peared bearing the Grail and made 
them whole. 

HEIMSKRINGLA. An abridged form 
of a work in Icelandic entitled 
Lives of the Kings of Norway, not 
now extant, written by Snorri 
Sturluson.authorof the "Younger " 
Edda, who flourished during the 
first half of the thirteenth century, 
and founded upon Ari Thorgilsson's 
Book of Kings, an earlier work on 
Norse-Icelandic history. Snorri 
treated the king's lives in the 
spiritof the greater Icelandic sagas, 
and the shape in which they exist 
is very far from authentic, as in 
the Heimskringla, Snorri's work 
has been greatly abridged, as is 
known by comparison with the 
saga of Olaf Tryggvason where 
more of Snorri appears to have 
been retained than in Heimskringla. 
Snorri by no means followed Ari 
slavishly, and infused much 
imaginative colour into his version 
of the Lives of the Kings. Dr. 
Vigfusson is very severe on the 
Heimskringla, which he regards as a 



176 HEL 

late, weak and badly made com- 
pilation from originals. But this 
criticism is scarcely just, as 
Heimskringla is a type of annals or 
pseudo -history of the same cha- 
racter with the Danish history 
of Saxo-Grammaticus, the (Chinese 
Historj' in the Five Books, the 
Japanese Nihongi, or the Central 
American Popol Vuh — ^that is, it 
consists of romantic history as 
does the Historia Begum Bri- 
tannicB, and is thus placed beyond 
criticism so far as its lack of 
authenticity is concerned. There 
is an excellent translation of 
Heimskringla by William Morris 
and Magnusson, and Carlyle utihzed 
it in composing his Kings of 
Norway. 

HEINE. Son of Studas. A character 
in the romance of Dietrich of 
Bern {q.v.), to whose court he was 
attached. Although a brave hero, 
he won disfavour through his 
greed for treasure, which subse- 
quently led him to turn traitor. 
This charge caused his death. 

HEINRICH VON DEM TURLIN. A 

German poet of the thirteenth 
century. About the year 1220 he 
wrote a long narrative poem 
entitled Die Krone (The Crown of 
All Adventure), and this contains 
incidentally a lament for the death 
of Hartmann von Aue, an earher 
poet, by whom Heinrich's own 
work was considerably influenced. 

HELCHE, QUEEN. {Vide " Dietrich 
of Bern.") 

HELDENBUCH, THE. (The Book of 
Heroes.) Edited by Kaspar von der 
Roen, in the fifteenth century, but 
supposed by Grasse to have been 
first collated from earher sources, 
and embelhshed by Wolfram von 
Eschenbach and Heinrich von 
Ofterdingen at the end of the 
twelfth century. Vilmar, in his 



HEL 



177 



Geschichte der Deutschen National- 
literatur, mentions several earlier 
Heldenbiicher, and greatly dis- 
jjarages von der Roen's collection. 
But it appears to have been the 
most complete and popular of any. 
The poems it contains although 
unequal in merit are stiU all of 
considerable interest. They are 
Onit, Wolfdietrieh, Etzel's Court- 
keeping, Giant Sigendt, Ecke's 
Journey, Dietrich and Ms Com- 
panions, King Laurin, The Rose 
Garden at Worms, The Lay of 
Hildebrand, The Sea Monster, and 
Dvke Ernst (all of which see under 
their titles or under " Dieterich of 
Bern "). 

HELGA. (Vide "Burnt Njal.") 
Daughter of Njal ; wife of Kari 
iq.v.). 

HELGA THE FAIR. (Vide " Gunn- 
laug Saga.") 

HELGI (1). In the Icelandic saga of 
Frithjof (q.v.). The dark and vin- 
dictive son of Bele. Hating 
Frithjof for his superior strength 
as for his inferior rank, he refused 
to give him Ingebjorg his sister to 
wife. He met his end by violently 
entering the temple of Yumala in 
the land of the Finns, against 
whom he was warring. As he 
wrenched open the door the god 
fell headlong and crushed him in 
his fall. 

HELGI (2). (Vide "Burnt Njal.") 
Third and youngest son of Njal ; 
husband of Thorhalla. With Grim 
(q.v.) his brother he went sea- 
roving near the Orkneys, fell in 
with Kari a Viking, who succoured 
them twice in their need, and whom 
they married to their sister Helga 
(q.v.). He assisted in the deaths 
of Thrain (q.v.) and Hrapp (q.v.), 
and in that of Hanskuld (q.v.). 
His own end he met at the hands 



HER 

of riosi, as he sought to escape a 
fiery death. 

HELGI (3). (Vide " Lay of the Vol- 
sungs.") Son of Sigmund and 
Borghild (q.v.). He slew Bang 
Hunding, after which he married 
Sigrun, King Hogni's daughter 
(all of whom see). This union 
displeased Hodbrod (q.v.), whom 
he slew. Sigrun's father then 
made war upon him, but was slain. 
He was subsequently killed by 
Dag, brother of Sigrun. 

HELICORAS. In Grail romance, son 
of Corsapias (q.v.) who accom- 
panied Flegentyne (q.v.) in his 
search for her husband Nasciens. 
He is alluded to in the Grand St. 
Graal. 

HELIUS AND HELAKE. The murder- 
ous sons of King Hermance (q.v.), 
whom they slew. (Vide " Morte 
d'Arthur.") 

HELLAWES. Lady of the Castle 
Nigramous, a sorceress who vainly 
attempted to win the love of 
Lancelot (q.v.). Failing in her 
endeavour, she died. (Vide " Morte 
d'Arthur.") 

HELYAB. Wife of Joseph of Arima- 
thea,in Grail romance, and mother 
of Josephes. She bore another 
son to Joseph and called him 
Galahad (q.v.). 

HELYAS. Alluded to in the Quisle 
del St. Graal as fourth in line from 
CeHdoine, King of Scotland in the 
genealogy of Lancelot and Galahad. 

HENRY, ARCHBISHOP OF RHEIMS. 

( Vide " Garin the Lorrainer.") He 
advised Pepin to marry Blanch- 
flower instead of giving her to 
Garin the Lorrainer. He incited 
the monks to swear they were 
related. 

HERBRAND. Father of Hildebrand 
(q.v.). ( Vide " Dietrich of Bern.") 

ST 



HER 



HEREGART. ( Vide " Gudrun Eay," 
third division of, under heading 
" Gudrun.") A young duchess, 
one of Gudrun's maidens, carried 
ofE with her to Ormany. She, 
however, deserted her mistress for 
one of Hartmut's retinue {vide 
" Hartmut "). On Gudrun's rescue 
Heregart begged for mercy, and 
Gudrun tried to save her, but Wate 
{q.v.) slew her for her unfaithful- 
ness to her mistress. 

HERMANCE. King of the Red City, 
brutally murdered by his two sons, 
Hehus and Helake {q.v.). Hisbody 
was placed in a barge which sailed 
up the Humber. Palomides and 
Tristran discover the body. The 
former, complying with the note 
in the dead king's hand, sails to 
revenge him on his wicked sons, 
who are subsequently slain. {Vide 
" Morte d' Arthur.") 

HERMENGARD. In the Charle- 
magne cycle of romance, sister of 
King Boniface of Pa via, and wife 
of Aymery of Narbonne {q.v.). 
By her he had seven sons, one of 
whom was the famous WUham of 
Orange {q.v.). {Vide " Enfances 
Guillaume.") 

HERMIND, SIR. Of the Delectable 
Isle and brother to King Her- 
mance {q.v.). {Vide " Morte 
d'Arthur.") 

HERMIT. Prince of the Reussen 
and son of Waldemar {q.v.). { Vide 
" Dietrich of Bern.") 

HERNAIS. {Vide " Garin the Lor- 
rainer.") Son of Duke Hemais 
of Lorraine, nephew of Garin. He 
killed Count Hardr6 at the fight 
after Pepin's wedding. 

HERNANT DE BEAULANDE. {Vide 
" Garin de Montglane.") 

HERNANT OF DOUAY. In the 

Charlemagne cycle of romance, a 



178 HER 

knight who fought against Raoul 
of Cambray {q.v.). Raoul cut his 
wrist, and blasphemed so whilst 
pursuing him that Hemant said to 
him that he prized him " no more 
than a mad dog." Bemier {q.v.), 
coming up, struck Raoul a deadly 
blow, and Hemant finished his 
work. 



HEREIN. In the WiUiam of Orange 
cycle, brother of Otrant, pagan 
King of Nimes. He took two 
oxen belonging to WiUiam of 
Orange when the latter came to 
Nimes disguised as a merchant, 
and upon the paladin's complaining 
Herpin pulled his beard, whereupon 
Wilham brained him with a blow 
of his fist. 

HERRAT. ( Vide ' ' Nibelungenlied.") 
Wife of Dietrich of Bern ; niece of 
Helche (wife of Etzel, King of the 
Huns). She was one of the ladies- 
in-waiting to receive Kriemhild on 
her arrival at Etzel's castle after 
her marriage to him. {Vide also 
" Dietrich of Bern.") 

HERVI (THE VILLEIN). {Vide 
" Garin the Lorrainer.") He was 
given charge of Plessis by Bego, 
and he gave assistance and advice 
to Bego after the attack made 
upon him by Thibaut. He found 
a messenger for Bego " Manuel 
Galopin " to send to the king to 
ask his aid. He fought bravely 
at the siege of Bordeaux. He was 
the father of Rigaut, and he was 
wroth with his son for not entering 
into the truce with the Bordelais 
after Bego's death. 

HER WIG. King of Seeland. {Vide 
" Gudrun Lay " — third division 
of, under heading " Gudrun.") 
Married Gudrun. A suitor for the 
hand of Gudrun, whose father 
Hettel at first rejected him, but 
Herwig marched against Hettel 



HER 



179 



HIL 



and after a fierce conflict they 
became reconciled, and Herwig and 
Gudrun were betrothed. Herwig 
returned to defend Seeland against 
Se3^rid (q.v.), and was forced to 
solicit aid from Hettel, during 
whose absence Gudrun was carried 
off by Hartmut (q.v.). Herwig's 
first expedition to save her ended 
in failure, but many years later 
he and his aUies were able again 
to attack Gudrun's captors, de- 
feating them utterly and rescuing 
Gudrun and her maidens. Through 
aU her trials Gudrun remained true 
and faithful to Herwig, and great 
joy was theirs upon reunion. 

HERZELOYDE. Wife of Gahmuret 
and mother of Parzival, alluded 
to in Wolfram von Eschenbach's 
Parzival. Gahmuret wed her on 
condition that he might go tourney- 
ing every month. On hearing of 
his death Herzeloyde withdrew 
into the forest with her son, whom 
she taught to hate war and 
chivalry. 

HETTEL. King of Hegehngen 
(Friesland). (Fi(fe "Gudrun Eay.") 
Married Hilda, daughter of Hagen, 
King of Denmark. Father of 
Ortwein and Gudrun. The story 
of his wooing and winning of Hilda 
of Denmark forms the second 
portion of Ettmiiller's division of 
the Gudrun Lay (q.v. under head- 
ing "Hagen and Hettel"). He 
refused all suitors for his daughter 
Gudrun's hand, finally, however, 
accepting King Herwig of Seeland. 
He was kiUed by King Eudwig at 
the battle on the Wulpenstrand, 
in the struggle to rescue Gudrun 
and her ladies who had been 
carried off by Ludwig and his 
son Hartmut (q.v.). For fuller 
description of the latter part 
of Hettel's Hfe see " Gudrun," as 
the third division of the Gudrun 
Lay. 



HEVEYEDD HEN. (Alluded to in the 
Mdbinogion.) According to the 
Welsh triads, he was the son of 
Bleiddan Sant of Glamorgan, and 
was one of the three stranger kings 
of Britain on whom dominion was 
conferred for their mighty deeds 
and praiseworthy qualities. In 
some of the pedigrees he is called 
the son of Caradawc Vreichvras. 
He was the father of Rhiannon 
{q.v.). 

HEYD. (FWe"Frith]ofSaga.") A 
Norwegian sea-witch or storm- 
fiend in the form of a white bear. 
With the other storm-fiend Ham 
(q.v.) she was sent by Helgi (q.v.) 
to engulf Frithjof (q.v.) as he sailed 
for the island of Yarl Angantyr 
(q.v.). 

HIARANDI. (Vide " Grettir Saga.") 
Brother of Bjom (q.v.). Seeking 
to slay Grettir, in order to avenge 
his brother's death, Hiarandi was 
himself slain. 

HILDA (1). (Vide " Gudrun Lay.") 
A princess of India. Married 
" Wild " Hagen (q.v.). Mother of 
Hilda. 

HILDA. (2). One of the three Uttle 
girls found by Hagen on his escape 
from the grifSns' nest. She is 
described as sweet and gentle, and 
as having a softening influence on 
Hagen's fierce nature. 

HILDA (3). (Vide portion of the 
" Gudrun Lay," under heading 
" Hagen and Hettel.") Daughter 
of Hettel and Hilda, King and 
Queen of Hegehngen. She was 
very beautiful and had many 
suitors, aU of whom her father 
refused. Hettel, however, sent 
ambassadors in disguise, who won 
her heart and carried her off, a 
wilhng captive, to be King Hettels' 
bride. Her father followed, and 
after fierce fighting peace was made 



HIL 

between Hagen and Hettel, and 
Hilda and her husband reigned in 
honour and happiness, two children 
being bom to them, Ortwein and 
Gudrun — for whose life see under 
" Gudrun " as a division of the 
" Gudrun Lay." Queen Hilda is 
also connected with the action of 
" Gudrun." 

HILDE. ( Vide " Dietrich of Bern.") 
Sister to Grim (q.v.) the giant. 
She assailed Dietrich (q.v.) in his 
struggle with her brother, but she 
was overcome, and met her ovm 
end. 

HILDEBRAND. Brother of Ilsan the 
monk and tutor of Dietrich of 
Bern (q.v.) and his faithful friend. 
Along with his royal student he 
fought many bloody conflicts. He 
was the son of Herbrand, a vassal 
to the court of Dietrich. He was 
possessed of great might almost 
equal to that of his brave master 
Dietrich, and throughout the story 
he displays untiring devotion to- 
ward the hero. He subsequently 
married Ute (q.v.). ( Vide ' ' Dietrich 
of Bern.") 

HILDEBURG. ( Vide " Gudrun Lay," 
third division of same, under 
heading " Gudrun.") Married 
Hartmut. She was one of the 
three httle girls found by Hagen 
(q.v.) on his escape from the 
griffins' nest, and one of Gudrun 's 
maidens who was carried off with 
her to Ormany. She was faithful 
to her mistress through all trials, 
sharing her hardships and suffer- 
ings during the time GerUnte (q.v.) 
forced her to wash clothes, even 
in the most bitter weather. She 
was with Gudrun when Herwig 
and Ortwein came as messengers 
from the rescuing party, and much 
honour was hers on the return to 
HegeUngen after the deliverance 
of Gudrun from her captors. 



i8o HIS 

Gudrun at length persuaded Hart- 
mut (q.v.) — a prisoner at Hegelin- 
gen — to cease to remain unwed on 
account of love of her, and at her 
suggestion he married Hildeburg. 
Hildeburg is always spoken of in 
the first part of the Gudrun Lay 
as a daughter of the Bang of 
Portugal. 

HILDEGUNDA ( Vide " Burnt Njal.") 
Daughter of Flosi, wife of Han- 
skuld (q.v.). Some years after her 
husband's death she was wedded 
to Kari (q.v.), Helga's widower. 

HILDEGUNDE. (Vide "Dietrich of 
Bern," and " Walther of Aqui- 
taine.") Daughter of the King of 
Burgundy. She was given to the 
Huns as hostage. She met Wal- 
ther (q.v.) also a hostage. She fell 
in love with him and they escaped. 
They were pursued and a fierce 
fight followed. She was, however, 
successful in restoring peace, and 
with her lover she pursued her 
journey to Aquitaine. 

HILDESWID. Daughter of King 
Rodgeier (q.v.). She was abducted 
from her father's court by his 
warrior Samson (q.v.), who later 
became king. She married her 
abductor, and on his winning her 
father's throne reigned with him as 
his queen. (Fit^e " Samson.") 

HILDING. (Vide " Frith j of Saga.") 
The sage who taught Frith j of and 
Ingebjorg the wisdom of the ages 
and the stories of the gods. 

HISTORIA BRITONUM. A work com- 
piled towards the end of the eighth 
century and attributed to a sup- 
posed British pseudo-historian 
Nennius, on the authority of the 
prologue or prologues contained in 
some of the MSS. The eariiest MS. 
ascribes the work to " Marius the 
Anachorite." It contains an 
account of the struggle of Arthur 



HIS 



i8i 



HIS 



with the Saxon invaders of Britain, 
but such historical fact as it 
includes is so intermingled with 
tradition as to be of small ser- 
vice to the historian proper. As 
the basis of romance, or at least 
the medium through which the 
Arthurian legends reached later 
writers, such as Geoffrey of Mon- 
mouth, it is of the deepest im- 
portance and interest to students 
of the subject. The Historia 
Britonum makes Arthur the general 
or dux bellorum of the British 
hosts, perhaps theComesBn'toJiwicE, 
an officer elected by the Britons 
to command their defensive forces 
after the withdrawal of the Roman 
legions. (Vide " Arthur " and 
" Arthurian Cycle.") See Nennius, 
Historia Britonum, ed. by J. 
Stevenson for Eng. Hist. Soc, 
1838 ; Arthur de la Borderie, 
L' Historia Britonumatribuie a Nen- 
nius et VHistoria Brittanica avant 
Oeoffro de Monmouth, Paris and 
London, 1883 ; Zimmer, Nennius 
Vindicatus ; San Marte, Nennius 
et Gildas. 

HISTORIA REGUM BRITANNIA. 

An alleged translation from a 
Welsh or French Breton chronicle 
by Geoffrey of Monmouth (q.v.), 
which states that he procured it 
from a certain Walter, Arch- 
deacon of Oxford, who got it in 
Brittany (and who is not to be 
confounded with Walter Map (q.v.), 
who at the date of the publica- 
tion of the book was only eleven 
years of age). This statement of 
Geoffrey's regarding the source of 
the book is in some quarters re- 
garded, but without any real found- 
ation, as " one of the great ruses of 
literary history." It contains in 
nine books the pseudo-history of 
the Britons from the era of their 
mythical king Brutus, to the 
death of Cadwallader. This work, 



which is often erroneously alluded 
to as the Historia Britonum, has 
the merit of preserving Brythonic 
tradition in a more complete and 
consistent form than elsewhere, 
and to it we owe the introduction 
of the interesting figure of Merlin 
the enchanter. Its popularity was 
immense, and it was translated 
into French verse by Wace, and 
from that source into Anglo-Saxon 
by Layamon. If Geoffrey was not 
the first to introduce these tradi- 
tions to readers, he at least revived 
interest in them after a lapse of 
three centuries. His work was 
published about 1128, and was 
dedicated to the Earl of Gloucester. 
It was printed at Paris in 1508 
and 1509, and at Heidelberg in 
1578. The Historia Begum Bri- 
tannicB is in its material sub- 
stantially the same as the Morte 
D' Arthur of Malory, which is out- 
Hned elsewhere, except that it 
tells of the campaigns of Arthur's 
father Uther against the Saxons. 
Uther is poisoned by the Saxons, 
and Arthur succeeds to the throne 
at the age of fifteen. So prodigal 
is he of his bounty to the multitude 
of knights who surround him, that 
he is compelled to harry the 
Saxons, Colgrin, Cheldric and 
Baldulph, whom with the assist- 
ance of Hoel, his nephew, King 
of Armorica, he subdues in many 
battles. His personal slaughters 
are immense, in one battle amount- 
ing to 420 men. He marries 
Guinevere, daughter of a noble 
Roman family, and this appears 
to stimulate him to further con- 
quests. Thus he conquers Ireland, 
Iceland, Gothland, and Orkney, 
after which he en] oy s twelve years of 
peace, during which time the fame 
of his court reaches the bounds 
of the earth. It was his desire 
to conquer the whole of Europe, 
and we find this semi-mythical 



HIS 



182 



HIS 



Napoleon overrunning Gaul, Nor- 
way, and Dacia, granting these 
kingdoms as fiefs to his trusty 
warriors. Another season of peace 
is described; during which the king 
acts as the glass of fashion to the 
whole world, holding his magni- 
ficent and enlightened court at 
Carleon-on-Usk. In this descrip- 
tion we see the germ of the veri- 
table Arthurian court of romance. 
Caerleon, we are told, " had a 
school of two hundred philosophers 
learned in astronomy and in the 
other arts," and we are led to 
understand that at this era Britain 
surpassed all other lands in wealth, 
magnificence and learning. Arthur 
is, as in other romances, the hero 
of a hundred exploits, each more 
marvellous than the last. After 
this not ignoble peace he makes 
war against the Romans, who are 
under the command of Lucius 
Hiberius, who with the aid of the 
Kings of the East musters an 
enormous force. A tremendous 
slaughter follows the meeting of 
the armies, and many of Britain's 
best knights are slain, but the 
Roman leader is killed, and his 
forces so shattered that Arthur 
meditates a march on Rome 
itself, and is in the act of climbing 
the Alps when he learns that his 
nephew Mordred has seized the 
crown of Britain and taken 
Guinevere unto himself. Several 
engagements does Arthur fight 
with the usurper. Having chased 
him into Cornwall he forces him 
to give battle on the banks of the 
river Camel, and in the desperate 
encounter which ensues nearly all 
the men of note on either side are 
slain. Arthur himself is sorely 
wounded, and is borne unto the 
Isle of Avalon for the heahng of 
his wounds. This we are told, 
happened in the year 542 a.d. 
Literature : Historia Britonum, 



ed. Schulz, 1854 ; G. ElUs, Speci- 
mens 0/ Early English Metrical 
Romances ; Dr. Sebastian Evans, 
translation of Geoffrey in the 
Temple Classics ; Translation of 
Nennius and GeofErey in Bohn's 
Series. 

HISTORY OP CHARLES THE GREAT 
AND ORLANDO. This chronicle 
was supposed during the Middle 
Ages to have been composed by 
Archbishop Turpin or TUpin of 
Rheims, but in reality was written 
by some monk at an imknown 
date before the year 1122. It is 
of the nature of pseudo-history, 
and is at the root of many tales 
and romances of Charles and 
Orlando, or Roland. In 1122 
Pope Calixtus II. officially declared 
its authenticity, probably for the 
good reason that it was found to 
be a powerful incentive to war 
against the infidel. So patent 
were the inventions contained in 
the work that it came to be known 
as the " Magnanime Mensonge," a 
falsehood heroic and pious. The 
work was quickly translated into 
French, and was first printed at 
Frankfort in 1566 in a collection of 
four chronographers, the Ger- 
manicum Rerum. Beginning with 
an epistle from Turpin to Ler- 
pander. Dean of Aix-la-Chapelle, 
in which the supposed author 
intimates his objects in writing 
a history of his times, the work 
proceeds to recount the circum- 
stances of Charles's wars with the 
Saracens of Spain, of the fall of 
Pampeluna, the destruction of 
the Mahometan "idols," of the 
churches builded by Charles, the 
recovery of Spain by Argolander, 
the emperor's war against him, 
and of the death and defeat of 
the Saracen prince. The cam- 
paign against Furra, King of 
Navarre, and the war with the 



HJA 



giant Ferracute or Ferragus, are 
next described (vide " Roland and 
Ferragus "). The author then 
proceeds to relate the circum- 
stances connected with the " War 
of the Masks " with Ibrahim, Bang 
of Seville, a campaign so called 
because of the disguise worn by 
the Saracens, who are defeated. 
The Council of Compostella is 
described, after which the treachery 
of Ganelon (q.v.), and the great 
Battle of Roncesvalles are touched 
upon. A poem upon Roland's 
rank and virtue follows. A vision 
seen by Turpin is then described, 
in which he beholds Roland carried 
to heaven, and Marsile {q.v.), a 
Saracen kii^, borne to hell. It 
is then recounted how the sun 
stood stiU for three days until 
Charlemagne punished the Saracen 
army. The burial of Roland is 
described, the council of St. Denis 
alluded to, and the work ends with 
the death of Charlemagne, who, 
according to the supposed Turpin, 
only won heaven by virtue of 
the many churches he had 
founded. 

HJALPREKS. King of Denmark, 
father of Alf the Viking (q.v.). 
(Vide "Eay of the Volsungs.") 
He befriended Hjordis, whose son 
Sigurd (q.v.) he became fond of. 

HJORDIS. Daughter of King EyUmi 
(q.v.), and second wife of Sigmund 
(q.v.). (Vide "Volsungs.") She, 
after her husband's death, dwelt 
with Hjalprek (q.v.). King of 
Denmark, whose son, Alf, the 
Viking (q.v.), she married, after 
giving birth to the dead Sigmund's 
son, Sigurd (q.v.). 

HOGNI, KING. Father of Sigrun 
(q.v.) wife of Helgi (q.v.), and of 
Dag (q.v.). He was subsequently 
slain by Helgi. (Vide "The Lay 
of the Volsungs.") 



183 HON 

HOGNI (1). (Fide "Volsungs.") Son 
of King Giuki and Grimhild (q.v.) 
and father of Niblung (q.v.). He 
with his brother Gunnar (q.v.) 
fought with Atli (q.v.). He was 
taken prisoner, and at the request 
of his own brother he was slain. 

HOGNI (2). (Vide " Burnt Njal.") 
Elder son of Gunnar (q.v.). Upon 
his father's death he took pos- 
session of the homestead at 
Lithend. 

HONEYSUCKLE, THE LAY OF THE. 

A romance of Tristan and Isonde 
or Iseult (q.v.), written by Marie 
de France (q.v.). Tristan, banished 
from Cornwall by King Mark, his 
maternal uncle, on account of his 
love for the queen, Isonde, dwelt 
a year in his own land. South 
Wales. Unable, however, to sup- 
port life without sight of the fair 
Isonde, he stole back to Cornwall. 
Here in the deep forest he lay hid, 
gleaning tidings of the court and 
the queen from the peasants. 
Then he learned that at Pentecost, 
King Mark proposed to hold high 
court at Tintagel ; also that the 
queen would ride thither. Through 
the woods they must come. 
Tristan therefore cut a wand from 
a hazel-tree, peeled off the bark 
and carved his name upon the 
wood. He also wrote upon it 
comparing himself and the queen 
to the hazel-tree and the honey- 
suckle. As the honeysuckle might 
not flourish without twining itself 
around the hazel, so might not 
Isonde thrive without her knight. 
This he set in her path. She saw 
it and bidding her knights to 
refresh themselves, she drew aside 
with Brangwaine, her maiden. 
She then sobght her lover, and 
each exchanged kisses till they 
must part. But Tristan made a 
lay about that meeting and called 
it " The Lay of the Honeysuckle." 



HOR 



HORANT. LordofDaneland. {Vide 
" Gudrun Lay," second and third 
divisions of same, under headings 
"Hagen and Hettel " and "Gu- 
drun.") Nephew of Wate of Stur- 
men. He came to HegeHngen to 
help King Hettel (q.v.) in his 
desire to win HUda of Ireland 
{q.v.), daughter of King Hagen, and 
at length set out with the embassy 
that went to Ireland with that 
purpose. Specially is he famed 
in the poem for his most beautiful 
voice, and his marvellous singing 
created a great stir at Hagen's 
court, and won Hilda's heart so 
that she consented to go to Hettel 
to be his bride, on hearing that at 
his court are even finer singers 
than Horant, and that the king 
himself excels them all. Horant 
took part also in the conflicts con- 
cerning Gudrun, fighting bravely, 
and acting as standard-bearer to 
the expedition which rescued her. 
He is described as the " sweet 
singer " in the epic, and some 
authorities consider that he appears 
in the Hamlet myths as Orendil or 
Aurentil. (For fuller comparisons 
of this nature, see article on 
" Gudrun Lay " as a whole.) 

HOWEL (1). Son of Emyr Lydaw, 
and Prince of Lydau, is alluded to 
in the tale of Peredur Son of 
Evrawc in the Welsh Mabinogion. 
He distinguished himself greatly 
in Arthur's wars against the 
Romans, and was one of the most 
strenuous in urging his sovereign 
to resist their unjust claims. 
When Arthur was suddenly called 
back to Britain by the news of 
Mordred's treachery, he left Howel 
with part of his army in Gaul 
to secure his possessions in that 
country. 

HOWELL (2). King of Brittany. 
In the Morte d' Arthur father of 
the sisters La Belle Isonde (Iseult) 



184 HUC 

and La Blanche Isond, both of 
whom see. 

HOWEL (3). {Vide "Roland and 
Ferragus.") Earl of Nantes, slain 
by Ferragus in single combat. 

HRAPP. (F»c?e "Burnt Njal.") A 
felon chased by Yarl Hacon of 
Norway, and succoured by Thrain 
(q.v.). Hating Grim and Helgi 
{q.v.) who had been unwilUng to 
receive him into Thrain's ship, he 
was, however, slain by these and 
Njal's sons. 

HREIDMAR. Father of Otter {q.v.), 
Regni {q.v.), and Fafnir {q.v.). He 
demanded blood-money from Loki 
{q.v.) for the slaughter of Otter, 
and received sufficient gold rings 
to fill Otter's sMn. This was the 
treasure of the Niblung's, and 
caused his death at the hands of 
his son, Fafnir {q.v.), who coveted 
it. ( Vide " Volsungs, Lay of the.") 

HRODGAR. Of Jutland, King of the 
Skioldungs. (Legend of Beowulf.) 
Grandson of Skiold, and a just 
and good ruler. His castle, 
HirschhaUe, was terrorized by the 
monster Grendel {q.v.) till Beowulf 
slew the giant. He loaded Beo- 
■wulf with rich gifts and treated 
him with every consideration. 

HRONERAS. The height on which 
Beowulf was buried. {Vide 
" Beowulf.") 

HRUNTUNG. The sword which Hun- 
ford gave to Beowulf {q.v.). 

HUCHOWNE or HUGH. Generally 
described by ancient Scots writers 
and annalists as "of the Awle 
Ryale," or Royal Palace, a romance 
writer who flourished in Scotland 
in the middle of the fourteenth 
century. He is said by Wyntoun 
in his Chronicle to have " made " 
the Great Oest of Arthure, The 
Pystyl of Sweet Susane (q-i>.), and 



HUG 



the Adventure of Gawane, which 
latter poem is mentioned by 
Dunbar in his Lament for 
the Makkaris to have been 
written by one Clerk of Tranent. 
From this circumstance, and from 
the fact that one MS. styles the 
author " The Clerk," it has been 
inferred that Huchowne and the 
clerk are one and the same. 
Chalmers thinks that he is the 
" gude Schir Hew of Eglintoun " 
alluded to by Dunbar as the 
author, on account of his con- 
nection with the court of Robert 
the Second, but there is not suffi- 
cient proof to support this theory. 
Sir F. Madden claimed for him the 
authorship of the much admired 
Syr Oawayne and the Grene Knyght 
(q.v.), and gives it as his opinion 
that no one but an educated 
person would have been so closely 
acquainted with the early poetry 
of France as was the author of 
that poem. If he was indeed the 
" maker " of Syr Gawayne he was 
a poet of no small power, as some 
of his descriptions of seasonal 
changes wiU rank with the mar- 
vellous pictures of Douglas, or 
Henryson's clear-cut vignettes. 
See the various 'precis of his 
romances under their several 
entries. His style is more antique 
than that of the author of Sir 
Tristrem {q.v.), and is strongly 
alliterative, having mechanical 
affinities with Langland and the 
later poets of the purely English 
Saxon type as apart from the 
Norman-English writers, and he 
does not employ many words of 
French origin. 

HUGH OF MANS. [Vide " Garin the 
Lorrainer.") Nephew of Garin 
and Bego. He went to battle 
with the Lorrainers. 

HUNDRED KNIGHTS, KING WITH 
THE. Alluded to in Arthurian 



183 HUO 

romance as a knight of prowess, 
and a frequent visitor to the 
court of Arthur. (Vide "Morte 
d'Arthur.") 

HUNFORD. In the legend of Beo- 
wulf, a Skioldung warrior at King 
Hrodgar's court. On hearing 
Beowulf's praises sung he was 
Jealous and spoke scornfully to 
the hero, but after the defeat of 
Grendel he made amends by giving 
his sword Hruntung to Beowulf 
as a token of friendship. 

HUO OF CAMBRAI. {Vide " Garin 
the Lorrainer.") Nephew of Garin. 
He was one of those who went to 
help King Thierry of Savoy. His 
own fortahce was suddenly be- 
sieged by Fremont and Baldwin 
of Flanders in revenge for Garin 
taking Soissons from Fromont. 
He prepared his town for defence. 
Going out to meet the invaders he 
saw Isor6 the grey at the head, 
whom he reminded of past favours, 
and Isore refused to fight against 
him. Baldwin's forces outnum- 
bered Huo's, so he sent to Pepin 
and Garin, and eventually won. 
He fought bravely in all the wars 
between the Lorrainers and Borde- 
lais, and on more than one occa- 
sion conducted successful cam- 
paigns. He turned out with 
eighty knights against Fromondin 
and was defeated, but Fromondin 
granted his Ufe. Bernard of Naisil 
stabbed him unnoticed, at which 
Fromondin was exceedingly wroth, 
saying that Huo was " the best 
man that ever drank wine." 

HUON OF BORDEAUX. A romance 
of the Charlemagne cycle. It teUs 
how Charlemagne was desirous of 
abdicating in favour of his two 
sons. Chariot and Lewis. To the 
former, of whom he was absurdly 
fond, and who was least worthy 
of the honour, he would have 



HUO 



i86 



HUO 



handed the sceptre, but his council 
refused to receive Chariot as king, 
and eventually persuaded Charle- 
magne to continue in the royal 
power. Amaury of Hauteville, 
however, proposed that Chariot 
should try his capacity for govern- 
ment, and that the rule of some 
rich province should be granted 
him. In making this proposal he 
had in view the domains of the 
late Duke Sevinus, who had left 
two young sons to the care of the 
Duchess Alice their mother, and 
as neither had paid homage to their 
king, he considered they should be 
made to yield up the province to 
Chariot. The council, however, per- 
suaded Charlemagne to send for the 
sons. Accordingly two knights were 
sent to the youths , andwere met with 
unfeigned cordiaUty. Their mis- 
sion ended, they returned to the 
king, whom they informed that the 
young Duke Huon would eventu- 
ally excel as his good father had 
done. The duchess made ready 
the two sons and sent them on their 
way, enjoining them to call at the 
Monastery of Cluny to visit the 
abbot, their father's brother. The 
good abbot received his nephews 
in a warm embrace, and promised 
to ride with them to Paris. 
Meanwhile a plot had been formed 
between Amaury and Chariot. 
They purposed to slay the two 
youths on their approach to Paris, 
and with this end in view they 
made their way into a forest 
through which the road passed 
accompanied by a troop of guards. 
As the two young men and their 
uncle drew near to the ambuscade, 
Girard, the younger of the two, 
rode on in advance. Chariot saw 
him approach, went forth to meet 
him, sought a quarrel with him 
and drew him from his horse. 
Huon had seen this and hurried 
to his brother's aid. He charged 



the cowardly Chariot with striking 
an unarmed rider and immediately 
assailed him. Although possessed 
of no shield and only a sword, 
Huon acted with great bravery, 
and finally slew Chariot. Amaury 
had watched the conflict and was 
not now prepared to avenge his 
accompUce's death, for he knew 
the king's weakness toward Char- 
lot, whose death would be revenged 
irrespective of the pleadings of 
Justice. Huon and the abbot 
attended to Girard's wounds and 
once more resumed their journey. 
They reached Paris but a few hours 
before Amaury and were welcomed 
with much magnificence by 
Charlemagne, to whom they related 
their encounter. But the king on 
seeing his son's corpse being carried 
into the court turned against his 
guests and would have slain them 
had not his councillor, the wise 
Duke Namo, stopped his hand and 
asserted that the council were the 
proper judges in this case. During 
the trial the Abbot of Cluny offered 
to prove with his body the he of 
Amaury. The trial ended by 
Huon and Amaury agreeing to 
fight. The battle was long, the 
young knight proved a worthy 
opponent of the hardened Amaury, 
and at last stretched the traitor 
on the ground, who begged for 
mercy. As he helped him, how- 
ever, to mount his steed, the 
treacherous Amaury thrust his 
sword into the victim's side. 
Huon, without thought of keeping 
the traitor alive to prove the 
treason, immediately dealt the 
fatal blow. Charlemagne was not 
satisfied, but though he forgave 
Huon, he commanded him to go on 
a perilous quest to justify his 
honour in his sight. The condi- 
tions were : To go to the court 
of the Sultan of Gaudisso, cut off 
the head of one of his favoured 



HUO 



187 



guards ; kiss three times on the 
lips the fair princess, and demand 
from the sultan four grinders from 
his mouth and a handful of white 
hair. Drastic as the conditions 
were, Huon Ughtly accepted them. 
The good abbot induced the young 
knight to first visit the Pope, who 
was the brother of the Duchess 
Alice. On his long journey after 
interviewing the Pope, he met 
with Sherasmin, who had fought 
with his father and who was now 
willing to accompany Huon on his 
perilous quest. Next they met 
with a dwarf who gave to the 
young prince a goblet which in 
the hands of a good Christian 
would fill with rich wine, and a 
horn which if blown gently would 
produce a feehng of harnilessness 
in his opponents. With these 
gifts they resumed their journey. 
One evening as they entered a 
Saracen town to inquire for an 
inn in which they might pass the 
night, a wealthy person stepped 
forward and offered his hospitality, 
which they accepted. His name 
was Floriac. He proved a good 
host and related how his gupst's 
uncle, a prince of the house of 
Guienne,had turned Saracen. With 
rage did Huon demand to be taken 
to this guilty uncle. The following 
day he arrived at the court of his 
kinsman whom he accused of 
renouncing the Christian Faith. 
The uncle pretended not to be 
moved, and as they sat at dinner 
the magic goblet filled with rich 
wine and the uncle was tempted 
to drink against the Saracen 
custom. But the wine ere it 
touched his lips disappeared. 
Consternation ensued, troops 
poured in and the Christians were 
surrounded. Remembering his 
enchanted horn, Huon blew but 
gently, and instantly calm pre- 
vailed. Under this mystic in- 



HUO 

fluence he exacted from his uncle 
a ring of passport to the presence 
of the Sultan of Gandisso. They 
left the court and made toward 
Bagdad. Huon next interrupted 
a struggle between a Hon and a 
knight. Slaying the Hon he found 
that he had saved the Ufe of a 
Saracen, Prince of Hyrcania, who 
on being offered a draught from 
the goblet flung it at his rescuer 
and fled. That same evening they 
lodged under the roof of an old 
dame who informs them of the 
marriage on the morrow of the 
Sultan's daughter Clariminda to 
the prince whom he had rescued. 
The next day he enters the palace 
of Gaudisso by professing to be 
a Mahometan. Reflecting on his 
deception, the magic goblet and 
horn lose their charm. He at-, 
tempts to remedy this by caUing 
aloud in the name of Christ ; but 
his only reply is to be confronted 
with the spears of the guard. The 
ring which his uncle gave him is 
shown, and immediately he is 
conducted into the presence of the 
sultan, who sat at dinner. A 
place is allotted to him near to the 
princess who was attracted to 
him. He remembered his charge 
and straightway kissed her three 
times. The prince, who sat on the 
sultan's right hand, protested by 
attempting to wound Huon with 
his sword. Huon retahated by 
cutting off his head. Now the 
sultan intervened and had the 
young knight cast into prison. 
During his confinement the prin- 
cess feeds him, and he persuades 
her to become Christian. An 
attempt is made to escape ; but 
he has yet to obtain the sultan's 
teeth and part of his beard. An 
embassy from the Caliph of Arabia 
arrives at the court with the death 
warrant of the sultan, who was 
suspected of withholding the 



HDR 



i88 



IPO 



caliph's share of treasures which 
had fallen into his hands. To 
protest was useless, and according 
to instructions his head was severed 
from his body. The princess now 
releases her lover, the teeth are 
extracted, the hairs plucked, and 
the lovers depart for Rome. The 
Holy Father unites them. They 
arrive in France, and Huon hands 
over the trophies to Charlemagne, 
who is well pleased. 

HURGANES or HURGANET. Alluded 
to in the Didot-Percival as a 
knight who with Gauvain and 
others swears to seek the Grail. 
He deUvered a lady from a giant, 
but was in turn slain by one 
Orgoillos Delaudes, who is van- 
quished by Perceval and sent to 
Arthur's court. 

HURLAME, KING. A Saracen, who 
assailed Kjng Labor (q.v.) and 



defeated him with the Grail 
sword. He afterwards returns to 
the ship for the scabbard, but 
is struck dead. (Vide "Morte 
d'Arthur.") 

HYALLI. {Vide " Volsungs.") A 
thrall of Gunnar's. 

HYGD, QUEEN. Wife of King Hyge- 
lak of Gothland {q.v.), alluded to 
in the legend of Beowvlf. On her 
husband's death she advised the 
election of Beowulf as king, her 
son Hardred {q.v.) being but a 
child. This Beowulf would not 
accept, acting instead as regent 
for Hardred. 

HYGELAK. (FitZe" Beowulf.") King 
of Gothland, uncle of Beowulf, 
slain in revenging a Viking raid 
made by the Frisians. 

HYVEIDD HIR. {Vide "Gododin.") 
Son of Bleddai Sant of Glamorgan. 



I 



IBRAHIM, {Vide "Roland and 
Ferragus.") King of Spain. A 
Pagan who cruelly persecuted the 
Christians and " banished the 
Patriarch of Jerusalem." 

IGRAINE. Wife of the Duke of 
Tintagil in Arthurian romance, 
and mother of Arthur by Uther 
Pendragon {q.v.). 

ILDANACH " THE ALL-CRAFTS- 
MAN." Surname conferred upon 
Lugh {q.v.), the Irish Celtic sun- 
god. 

ILLUGI. {Vide " Grettir Saga.") 
Third youngest brother of Grettir. 

ILLUGI, THE BLACK. {Vide " Gunn- 
laug Saga.") Father of Gunnlaug. 

ILSAN. A monk, brother of Hilde- 
brand {q.v.) {vide " Dietrich of 



Bern "). He left his monastic 
surroundings to fight for the hero 
of the story, and was conspicuous 
in the Battle of the Rose Garden 
{q.v.). 

INGEBJORG. {Vide " Frithjof Saga.") 
Beloved by, and finally wedded to, 
Frithjof {q.v.) in the Icelandic 
Saga which bears his name. 

INOR, KING OF MOUNBRAUNT. 

{Vide "Bevis of Hampton.") 
Married Josyan, who was taken 
from him by Sir Bevis. Ascapard 
the giant promised to take Josyan 
back to him but was killed, and 
Inor afterwards made war on 
Josyan's father, but was defeated 
and taken prisoner. He was slain 
in battle by Sir Bevis. 

IPOMEDON. An Enghsh romance of 
the fourteenth century, probably 



IRN 



189 



ISP 



derived from a French original. 
It is alluded to among the romances 
in the Prologue of Richard Cuer de 
Lyon. In this romance we have 
an example of how classical 
nomenclature might be apphed to 
mediaeval story. Ipomedon was 
the son of Ermones, King of 
Apulia, and loved the heiress of 
Calabria. Ipomedon is introduced 
waiting in his father's hall at a 
great festival. The feasters speak 
of the Princess of Calabria, and 
young Ipomedon immediately 
forms a resolution to visit and win 
her. He sets forth on his travels, 
disguised, and instructs his fol- 
lowers not to address him by his 
own name, or to afford any infor- 
mation concerning him to any 
inquirer. They arrive at Calabria, 
and request to be permitted to 
eat with the princess. This is 
granted, and Ipomedon asks leave 
to enter the lady's service. She 
accepts him as her cup-bearer. 
As such, he dwells in her palace a 
long time, and forms a fast friend- 
ship with Jason, the lady's cousin. 
The princess thought deeply on 
Ipomedon, and desired to discover 
his name and country. She sees 
he comes of high Uneage through 
his prowess in the chase, knights 
him, a feast of forty days' duration 
is held, and we conclude that the 
pair are afl&anced. 

IRNAN. In Irish romance, the last 
of the three sorcerer-daughters of 
Conaran. Putting Finn under 
taboo to send his men in single 
combat against her as long as she 
wished, she was slain by GoU her 
sister's slayer. 

ISABELLA. {Vide " Orlando Inna- 
morato," and " Orlando Furioso.") 
Daughter toGalego,Kingof Galica, 
in love with Zerbino (q.v.). She 
was found by Orlando in the out- 
law's cave, and delivered by him. 



When her lover was slain she 
renounced love for religion. 

ISEMBART. A being " who had long 
been a fish, but since the last 
twelvemonth had become a human 
monster by decree of the fairies." 
He is alluded to in the Battle of 
Loquifer (sub-cycle of William of 
Orange), and declares to Renouart 
(q.v.) that he is to be carried to 
Paynimrie and flayed alive. He is, 
however, overcome and slain by 
Renouart. 

ISEULT, ISOLDE, or ISOND (1). 
Daughter of the King of Ireland, 
married to King Mark of Cornwall. 
The many adventures and his love- 
affairs with Sir Tristram are de- 
tailed at length in the articles 
" Sir Tristram " and " Morte 
d'Arthur." ' ____ 

ISEULT, ISOLDE, or ISOND (2). 
La Blanche Mains, of Brittany, 
rival for the love of Tristram, and, 
in some romances, described as 
sister to Iseult of Ireland. {Vide 
"Morte d'Arthur" and "Sir 
Tristram.") 

ISORE THE GREY. {Vide " Gann 
the Lorrainer.") Nephew of Fro- 
mont. He besieged Cambrai, but 
on Huo pleading past favours, he 
refused to fight against him. He 
defended St. Quentin afterwards, 
and having a quarrel with Bego a 
great battle ensued. He hated 
Bego, and tried on many occasions 
to kill him. He was present at 
the fight at the wedding ceremony 
and in the kitchen. He was taken 
prisoner then, and afterwards had 
a great combat with Bego by whom 
he was slain. His heart was torn 
out by Bego and handed over to 
WilUam of Montclin. 

ISPRES. {Vide " Ferumbras.") A 
Roman who held command of the 
principal gate of Rome and 



ISU 



betrayed his city to the Soudan. 
Ferumbras had his head cut ofi 
and carried on the point of a spear 
when he went into the city. 

ISUMBRAS, SIR. An English 
romance, consisting of 130 six- 
lined stanzas, abridged from the 
MS. copy in the library of Caius 
College. 

Once there hved a knight who 
from his earHest infancy was pos- 
sessed of good fortune. Being 
remarkably strong and handsome 
this favoured nobleman enjoyed 
life as befitted one in such a unique 
position. Wedded to a lady equally 
charming, and the father of three 
lovely children. Sir Isumbras could 
well rejoice. With princely 
hberaUty he entertained con- 
tinuously, but he had neglected 
one important matter. This 
fortunate knight had many virtues, 
on which he rehed too much, 
ignoring one wise rule of life which 
he had yet to leam. In selfish 
pride he forgot to acknowledge the 
Giver of all his abundant blessings, 
in his arrogance attributing these 
to his own virtues. While hunting 
one 'day he was confronted by an 
angel, who reproached him with 
ingratitude, and warned him of 
the visitation of God's vengeance 
upon his household. Feeling the 
justice of the rebuke, Isumbras 
returned dejected to his palace. 
Hardly had he turned homeward 
when his horse dropped dead under 
him. Then his magnificent palace 
was completely wrecked, his horses 
and cattle were destroyed, while 
his wife and children escaped from 
the ruins insufficiently clad. TTi a 
province had become a waste. 
Realizing the justice of the pimish- 
ment, he set out on a pilgrimage to 
Jerusalem. Unaccustomed to such 
hardships, the destitute family soon 
wearied of their journey. Arriving 



190 ISU 

at a wide but shallow river which 
they must cross, Isumbras pro- 
ceeded to carry his children to the 
other side. Placing the first one 
under a shady tree he returned 
for the second child. Meanwhile 
the newly-conveyed child was 
carried off by a Hon. The father 
on crossing with the second was 
horrified at such a loss. Depositing 
his second son in the same spot, he 
Hkewise was borne away by a 
leopard. The demented parents, 
accompanied by their third and 
only surviving child, wandered on. 
They eventually arrived at the 
sea-shore, where they perceived a 
rich vessel Ijdng moored to the 
beach. Approaching it, they asked 
the sailors for food. But the 
Soudan, the owner of the galley, 
refused them. His attendants, 
observing the strangers' noble 
bearing, pointed out that they were 
evidently of exalted rank. Struck 
with the beauty of Isumbras' wife, 
the Soudan offered gold and rai- 
ment in exchange for her, but the 
koight indignantly refused this 
offer. Accustomed to being 
obeyed, the angry Soudan ordered 
Isumbras' wife to be torn from him 
and that the dismayed husband 
should take his gold, then be 
brutally whipped. Separated 
from his wife, he took his only 
child, and went on shore. Ascend- 
ing a rocky mountain they allayed 
their himger by the food they had 
procured, then sought repose until 
daybreak. The money and pro- 
visions which had been given to 
Isumbras were hidden in his red 
mantle. The sun's golden beams 
falling upon the bright cloth 
attracted an eagle, which swooped 
down upon the treasure and bore 
it off in its talons. The knight 
followed the flight of the bird in 
the hope that it might drop the 
useless burden, but the eagle 



ISU 



directed its course towards the 
shores of Africa. Returning to 
his little son, Isumbras was just in 
time to perceive him being snatched 
away by a unicorn. In these sore 
straits he regarded this calamity 
as a blessing, for he had not the 
means to provide for the boy's 
maintenance. Saved from starva- 
tion as though by Providence, he 
humbly knelt in prayer, then con- 
tinued his journey. Perceiving 
the forge of a smith, Isumbras 
entered and begged for food, but 
the smith refused, and told him 
to work for it. The knight re- 
mained with the good smith for 
over a year, using his spare time 
to make a suit of armour. He 
regained his lost vigour, and his 
health resumed its former robust- 
ness . A war between the Christians 
and Saracens being imminent he 
enlisted with the former. Despite 
his courage he was vanquished by 
the enemy, but saved through the 
daring of a comrade. The Christian 
king despatched the wounded 
Isumbras to a nunnery, where he 
received attendance. After a long 
sojourn there he assumed the dress 
of a palmer, and went on his way. 
The penitent Isumbras em- 
ployed the following seven years 
in visiting every part of the Holy 
Land. He led a Ufe of continual 
mortification, accepting the charity 
of the poor, and sleeping at night 
iij the open air. After a day spent 
in fruitless quest of food, an angel 
appeared to him with bread and 
wine. Feeling that his sins were 
forgiven he began the daily struggle 
with a Ught heart. Passing a 
stately castle he asked for food. 
Hearing that the owner was a rich 
queen, who daily bestowed a florin 
on every poor man who approached 
her, and frequently in necessitous 
cases provided lodgings, Isumbras 
duly applied for refuge, and his 



191 ITH 

emaciated appearance gained for 
him instant admittance. His 
exemplary conduct attracted the 
benevolent queen, who finally re- 
solved to retain the holy palmer 
in her service, who rapidly regained 
his wonted strength. While cross- 
ing a field one day, Isumbras dis- 
covered his long-lost treasure in a 
tree, and found the contents intact. 
Hurrying to his chambers he hid 
the gold. The queen, however, 
had observed her servant's haste 
in disposing of the red cloth. So 
after he left the apartment she 
caused a search to be made, and 
recognizing the tell-tale bundle 
was overjoyed to find that it 
belonged to her husband. Isum- 
bras appeared, told his story, 
recognized his wife, fell at her 
feet, and the reunion was cele- 
brated by his becoming king of the 
city. The Saracen subjects, un- 
willing to submit to the Christian 
yoke, declared war against their 
new ruler, and Isumbras entered 
the field. But the victory was 
secured by the intervention of three 
knights who appeared, each riding 
on a wild beast. The first was 
mounted on a lion, the second on a 
leopard, and the third on a unicorn. 
They dispersed the bewildered 
enemy, who fled. Isumbras ap- 
proached the three knights to find 
that they were his lost sons. The 
natives then proclaimed Isumbras 
as their king. Soon the three 
adjoining kingdoms were added to 
his dominions, and over each he set 
one of his sons. The royal family 
then lived to enjoy in peace the 
reward which, through their past 
sufferings and humble submission- 
they had justly reaped. 

ITH. In Irish romance, son of 
Bregon, grandfather of Miled {q.v.). 
He looked westward one winter's 
eve from his father's tower in 



lUB 



192 



" Spain," and saw the coast of 
Ireland. Setting sail thither, he 
landed to find that the Danaan 
king had been slain in battle with 
the Fomorians, and that his three 
sons were arranging the division 
of the land among themselves. 
Invited to give his judgment he 
did so, but as he expressed great 
admiration for the country, the 
Danaans feared his rivalry and 
slew him. His companions re- 
covered the body ; and returned 
from " Spain " with the children 
of Miled to take vengeance on the 
murderers. Such is the legend of 
the coming of the Milesians into 
Ireland. 

lUBDAN. In Ultonian romance. 
King of the Wee Folk. Flushed 
with wine, he boasted one day of 
the might of his strong man Glower, 
who could hew down a thistle at a 
stroke. Eisirt (q.v.), his bard, how- 
ever, hinted that oversea there 
was a giant race, one of whom 
could annihilate a whole battalion 
of the Wee Folk. For this audacity 
Eisirt was cast into prison, but was 
liberated on promising to go to 
this giant land and bring back 



JAC 

evidence of his story. He returned 
with ^da {q.v.). King Fergus' 
{q.v.) dwarf and bard. Eisirt 
then put lubdan under geise (or 
taboo) to go himself to the palace 
of Fergus and taste his porridge. 
At midnight the Wee King and 
his wife Bebo reached their desti- 
nation ; and in striving to get at 
the porridge and be away before 
daybreak lubdan fell in. There 
in the pot Fergus' scullions found 
him, and carried him and Bebo to 
their master. The Ulster monarch 
refused to let them go until the 
Wee Folk came in a multitude to 
beg the release of lubdan. Fergus 
still refusing, they plagued his 
country. Then they promised 
plenty of unsown com yearly in 
his plains, but all in vain. At last 
Fergus released lubdan for the 
gift of a pair of water shoes, 
wearing which a man could go 
over or under water as freely as on 
dry land. 

lUCHAR. In Irish romance, one of 
the three sons of Turemi {q.v.). 

lUCHARBA. In Irish romance, one 
of the three sons of Turenn {q.v.). 



JACOBUS DE VORAGINE. An Italian 
prelate of the Middle Ages, who 
wrote a number of books in Latin, 
notably Legenda Aurea, better 
known as The Golden Legend. His 
name was really Giacomo, but he 
Latinised it in accordance with the 
usual fashion among mediaeval 
writers. He is supposed to have 
been bom about 1220, while his 
native place is recorded to have 
been Varazze, a small village not 
far from Genoa. Becoming a 
Dominican friar, he soon acquired 



considerable reputation as a 
preacher, and in course of time 
he was appointed Provincial of 
Lombardy. In 1292 the Pope, 
Nicholas IV., who had conceived 
a high opinion of him, summoned 
him to Rome with the intention 
of consecrating him Archbishop of 
Genoa ; but, when Jacobus arrived 
at the Eternal City, he found His 
Holiness stricken with an illness 
to which he succumbed a httle 
later. The cardinals, however, 
determined to take the matter into 



JAM 



193 



their own hands, and accordingly 
Jacobus was consecrated soon after 
the following Easter. He dis- 
charged his duties well, distin- 
guishing himself in particular by 
his efforts to quell the civil dis- 
cords rampant at Genoa ; but his 
term of office was comparatively 
short, for he died about 1299. 

According to a statement made 
by Sixtus of Siena, Jacobus ren- 
dered the Old and New Testaments 
into Itahan, but no trace of these 
translations remains nowadays. 
He was also a voluminous writer 
of sermons, and some of these were 
repeatedly issued in book-form 
during the fifteenth century ; while 
he hkewise dompiled a lengthy 
historical work, Chronicon Jan- 
uense, parts of which may be read 
in Berum Italicarum Scriptores, 
edited by Muratori (1723-1738) ; 
and this is a book of no ordinary 
significance, deahng fully as it 
does with the myths surrounding 
the early history of Genoa, and 
with the crusading exploits of the 
Genoese. The Golden Legend, 
again, was one of the most popular 
devotional works of the Middle 
Ages, and was among the first 
writings ever printed. Numerous 
Latin editions thereof were pub- 
lished in the fifteenth century, 
while it was translated into French, 
German, and ItaHan, and Caxton 
issued an English version in 1483. 
Nor is the book altogether for- 
gotten yet, and, as the reader will 
doubtless recall, Longfellow culled 
one of his poems from its pages. 

JAMES I., KING OF SCOTLAND. He 

is included^ here by virtue of the 
ascription to him of several poems, 
notably The King's Quhair. The 
second son of Robert III., James 
was born at Dunfermline in 1394 ; 
and in 1402 he became heir-ap- 
parent to the Scottish throne, his 



JAM 

elder brother being murdered in 
that year. Perhaps because he 
dreaded a Uke fate for his remain- 
ing son. King Robert decided not 
to keep James in Scotland, but to 
send him to France, and en route 
the young prince was captured by 
the EngHsh. His subsequent im- 
prisonment at their hands seems 
to have been a fairly happy one, 
httle restriction being put on his 
actions, and as good an education 
being given him as he would have 
received had he been freer in 
Scotland or France ; but a high 
ransom was demanded when he 
was ultimately released in 1423, 
while it was also stipulated that 
he should marry an English wife. 
Accordingly he espoused Jane 
Beaufort, daughter of the Duke of 
Somerset, and early in 1424 he 
returned with her to Scotland. 
Robert III. had been dead since 
1406, and James found his native 
realm in a turbulent condition ; 
yet he strove manfuUy to preserve 
justice and to curb the nobles, 
and as a result of his ardour 
herein he was murdered at Perth 
in 1437. 

The question whether James 
really composed The Kind's Quhair 
is debated in an article under that 
heading. Suffice it to say here 
that he was a man of keen Hterary 
tastes, as witness the statements 
in a book written in his own time. 
The Dethe of the Kinge of Scotis, 
and also the evidence of two 
historians who hved soon after 
him. Hector Boece and Walter 
Bower. The latter even asserts 
that James was a painter of great 
gifts, while Boece descants on 
the king's talents as a musician. 
Moreover, Alessandro Tassoni, an 
Italian writer of the sixteenth 
century, states in his Pensiri 
diversi (lib. 10, cap. 33), that James 
"invented a new kind of music, 

o 



JAN 

plaintive and melancholy, different 
from all other, in which he has 
been imitated by Carlo Gesualdo, 
Prince of Venosa;" 

Literature : James's Ufe has been 
repeatedly written, and probably 
the best of such books is J. J. 
Jusserand's Romance of a King's 
Life, 1896. As the reader will no 
doubt recall, James's tragic end 
is described by Swinburne in Kate 
Barlass, and by Rosetti in The 
King's Tragedy. 

JANIBUS. Son of Ortgis. (Vide 
"Dietrich of Bern.") He with 
his father oppressed the dwarfs, 
but subsequently died at the hands 
of Dietrich and his followers. 

JEAN DE MEUNG. A French author 
of the Middle Ages. He was born 
at Meung-sur-Loire, probably 
about 1250, and he is supposed to 
have died early in the fourteenth 
century. Little is known about 
his life, but it would seem that he 
was a cleric of some sort, while 
it is recorded that as a young man 
he entered the Sorbonne at Paris. 
He appears thenceforth to have 
lived chiefly in the French capital, 
and according to a Parisian tradi- 
tion his home was in the Rue St. 
Jacques. At the outset of his 
career he was chiefly concerned 
with translation, doing an excel- 
lent French version of Abelard and 
Helo'ise, and also rendering into his 
native tongue the TopograpMa 
Hibernica of Giraldus Cambrensis 
and St. Ailred's De Amicitia 
Spiritimli. Subsequently, at the 
request of the French king, Philippe 
le Bel, he translated the Oonsokitio 
PhilosophicB of Boethius, a work 
which enjoyed extraordinary popu- 
larity in mediaeval Europe ; and 
it was probably after completing 
this that he turned his attention 
to his magnum opus, namely, his 
continuation of the immortal poem 



194 JEH 

begun by Guillaume de Lorris, 
the Roman de la Rose. Nor did 
this lengthy work conclude his 
activities, for towards the close 
of his life he wrote another poem 
of considerable length, the Testa- 
ment de Jean de Meung, a curious 
and interesting production, full of 
fierce satires on the Church and its 
dignitaries. A number of very 
old manuscript copies of this poem 
are extant, a fact which demon- 
strates it to have enjoyed great 
vogue ; and indeed Jean was 
widely esteemed in the France of 
his time, aUke for his scholarship 
and his writings, and accordingly 
numerous works are ascribed to 
him which carniot possibly be 
found to be his. ( Vide " Romance 
of the Rose.") 

JEFFREY. {Vide " Garin the Lor- 
rainer.") Count of Anjou. Nephew 
and companion of the two 
Eorrainers. 

JEHAN DE SAINTRE. A French 
romance of the fifteenth century. 
The hero began his career in the 
train of a notable knight attached 
to the court of France, where the 
boy very soon attracted the notice 
of the king by his good looks and 
splendid horsemanship, and was 
selected as page to that royal 
personage. He furthermore be- 
came the favourite of a young 
widowed princess, the Dame des 
Belles-Cousines, living at the court. 
One day the lady commanded him 
to go to her room, when to the 
boy's amazement she lectured him 
on his knightly duties, and giving 
him twelve gold crowns bade him 
go to the king's tailor and obtain 
fresh apparel. Her attachment to 
the young page increased. But 
afraid that her intimacy might be 
detected, she very cunningly con- 
trived with Jehan to treat him in 
public with becoming indifference. 



JEH 



She further entrusted him with a 
key with which he might enter 
her room secretly and also adopted 
a signal of placing a diamond pin 
between her teeth as a mark of 
her desire for his presence behind 
the secret door. This intrigue 
went on imtil by her lavishness 
she had succeeded in raising him 
to a high command in the king's 
service. At last he was prompted 
to apply for a commission of enter- 
prise by which he might be dubbed 
knight, and accordingly in all his 
splendour he requested the honour 
from his royal master. The king 
did not hesitate, and presenting 
him with a bounty of two thousand 
crowns, increased by a contribution 
from the queen, he departed with 
a " letter of arms " to the four 
principal courts of Europe. The 
princess had sent his heralds in 
advance arrayed ia most extrava- 
gant fashion. His passage through 
France excited popular admiration, 
until he came to Pampeluna, where 
the court of Aragon had its seat, 
his escort being continually aug- 
mented. The Spanish knights 
eagerly awaited his coming, and 
when he did arrive treated him 
most courteously. Has prowess 
drew the whole court to his feet, 
and the queen in her admiration 
took from her neck a precious 
necklace and fastened it to the 
breast of her hero. He eventually 
tore himself from his royal ad- 
mirers and returned to Paris to be 
greeted with applause. His lady- 
love especially showed him honour ; 
but oiJy in the quiet of her own 
apartments. Jehan next van- 
quished a dozen EngUsh knights 
who had landed at Calais and had 
carried all before them. This new 
victory added to the young hero's 
credit another laurel which shortly 
afterwards led to his being 
knighted. His father had just 



195 JEH 

died, a circumstance which neces- 
sitated his becoming overlord of his 
estates. The princess now deemed 
it wise to openly display her 
admiration, but strangely enough 
her ardour had damped. Jehan 
left his royal master's court to win 
fresh laurels in the East. During 
his absence the princess fell ill, 
and under the physician's advice 
went to a castle she possessed in 
Touraine, which lay very close to 
her lover's inherited property. 
Before his return, his fickle fair 
one had cast her eyes on another, 
who was the abbot of a rich 
monastery. Jehan returned to his 
home from his glorious achieve- 
ments in the East to find his rival 
making rapid headway. He met 
with the pair and found that his 
mistress had become cold. The 
abbot in his elation challenged the 
knight to wrestle, which, although 
hardly in keeping with knightly 
usage, he wiUingly accepted. The 
athletic abbot scored over Jehan, 
who was ridiculed by the princess. 
He meekly submitted to her scorn 
and in response to an invitation 
dined with the abbot and his lady. 
The Churchman forgot his position, 
and very wildly denounced his 
guest and the noble order of 
knighthood. The young knight 
calmly remonstrated, and before 
leaving extended his hospitaUty 
to them. He arrived at his castle 
and made preparations for the 
abbot and his lady, who duly 
arrived. After the repast, he 
brought into the banqueting 
chamber a huge and heavy coat 
of mail which he offered to his 
guest, challenging him to a duel. 
The awe-stricken abbot refused, 
but in vain, and donning the 
weighty armour he weakly at- 
tempted to face his host, who 
touching him lightly with his lance, 
drove him to the floor. The 



JER 

princess screamed, but unheeding 
her appeals, Jehan raised the visor 
of the abbot and sHt his tongue, 
exclaiming : "Be thus chastised 
for the revihng words thy false 
mouth hath vomited out against 
the sacred order of knighthood 
and those who profess it." 
Journeying to the court of France 
some time after, Jehan related 
the story, which drew from his 
royal listeners marked approval. 
Turning to the false princess, who 
had listened to his narrative, he 
begged for her opinion : but 
knowing the truthfulness of his 
remark, she uneasily rejoined that 
the knight might have displayed 
more Justice. Thus ended their 
amour. 

JERUSALEM DELIVERED. Tasso's 
(1544-1595) great poem may well 
be included in a dictionary of 
romance, as it marks an epoch 
when European romance reached 
its apogee. Moreover, it cast into 
romantic form the story of the 
Crusades — a world-movement 
which probably did more to dis- 
seminate and foster the romantic 
spirit than any other. The poem 
is founded on the circumstances 
of the first Crusade, and as it opens 
teUs how the Christian army is 
encamped in the plains of Tortosa. 
Book I. God, in searching the 
hearts of the leaders, finds ambi- 
tion, power and avarice the chief 
motives for their ardour, Godfrey 
alone being inspired with the pure 
zeal of dnving the infidel from 
Jerusalem. An angel is sent, who 
appoints him general of the Chris- 
tian host, and bids him call a 
meeting of the chiefs, to urge them 
to hasten their advance on Jeru- 
salem. They meet, and in a 
stirring speech Godfrey recounts 
their various successes, which he 
attributes to Divine aid ; and 



196 JER 

advises them to lose no time in 
marching towards Jerusalem, lest 
the Saracen host be strengthened 
by help from Egypt. Peter the 
Hermit — originator of the Cru- 
sades — approves the speech, and 
with the consent of the chiefs, 
elects Godfrey commander of the 
Christian forces. He reviews the 
army : and the different nations, 
names and rank of their leaders are 
described. They then continue 
the march to the Holy City. 
Aladine the Saracen king, alarmed 
at their approach, lays waste the 
country, poisons the water sources 
and reinforces Jerusalem. 

Book II. At the instigation of 
Ismeno the sorcerer, Aladine 
forcibly carries off the image of the 
Virgin from the Christian templa 
and transfers it to a Mahometan 
mosque. Ismeno proposes to 
weave a spell that wiU protect the 
city. At night the image is stolen. 
The king, incensed at the Chris- 
tians, and unable to find the thief, 
declares a general massacre. 
Sophronia, a Christian maiden, in 
order to save the people, pleads 
guilty to the theft, and is con- 
demned to death. Her lover, 
Olindo, attempts to save her by 
taking the blame on himself. 
Aladiie, enraged at both, orders 
them to be burned. Clorinda, an 
Amazon, arrives to aid the Saracen 
King, and admires the fortitude of 
Sophronia when tied to the stake. 
She intercedes for her and hei 
lover and obtains their pardon. 
Meanwhile, Godfrey with his army 
reach Emmaus. He receives Aro- 
gantes and Alethes, Egyptian 
ambassadors. Alethes in a 

plausible speech endeavours to 
dissuade Godfrey from attacking 
Jerusalem. His proposals are 
rejected, and Arogantes declares 
war in the name of Egypt's king. 
Book III, At their first sight 



JER 

of Jerusalem the Christian army is 
filled with deep emotion. The 
alarm is given, and the Saracens 
prepare for the enemy's attack. 
From the battlements, Aladine 
views their approach. Erminia by 
his side describes the names and 
characteristics of the various com- 
manders. Clorinda makes the first 
sally, defeats a small foraging 
party and kills their leader Gardo. 
Tancred hastens to the rescue. In 
the melee Qorinda's helmet falls 
off, thus disclosing her face. Tan- 
cred is smitten with her beauty 
and while parleying with her a 
soldier, hurrying past, aims a blow 
at her unprotected head, inflicting 
a sHght woxmd. Incensed at the 
deed, Tancred pursues the man. 
Finding pursuit useless, he turns 
to behold the Christians hard 
pressed by Argantes. Spurring to 
their assistance, he is joined by 
Dudon and Rinaldo. Dudon is 
killed by Argantes, but the Pagans 
are routed and retreat towards the 
city. Rinaldo, eager to avenge 
the death of his friend, incites his 
followers to scale the walls. God- 
frey, with wiser counsel, commands 
them to wait a more favourable 
opportunity. He makes a noble 
oration over the dead warrior, 
and orders him to be interred with 
funeral honours. Finding the 
walls inaccessible, Godfrey sends 
his men into the woods to fell 
timber for besieging apparatus. 

Book IV. Pluto summons a 
council of the infernal powers, 
and after discoursing on their 
former state, urges them to employ 
their machinations against the 
Christians. The fallen angels dis- 
perse to do his bidding ; and in 
various ways are shown the evil 
influences of their black art. 
Hidraotes, King of Damascus, 
scheming to sow discord in the 
Christian host, and so weaken 



197 JER 

their power, decides to do so 
through a woman's wiles, and sends 
his niece Armida to the enemy's 
camp. She is brought before 
Godfrey, and by a feigned story 
of her misfortunes, endeavours 
to enlist his services on her behalf. 
To her disappointment, he refuses 
to do so until they reheve Jeru- 
salem from the Saracen yoke. The 
decision arouses the ire of the 
knights, who are eager to succour 
beauty in distress. At their re- 
quest, ten champions are selected 
to aid the maiden's cause. During 
her residence in the camp, Armida, 
by her beauty and cunning, caip- 
tivates almost aU the principal 
leaders. 

Book V. Eustatius, with his own 
interests in view, praises Rinaldo 's 
valour, and cajoles him into 
aspiring to the leadership of the 
ten knights. Gemando, coveting 
the command himself, and enraged 
at the presumption of the stripHng, 
goads him by taunts and insolence 
to mortal combat. Gemando is 
slain, and his friend Amaldo, 
exaggerating the deed to Godfrey, 
desires the death of the victor. 
Tancred upholds Rinaldo, pleads 
his cause, and Godfrey resolves to 
grant him a public trial. Tancred 
hastens to the tent of his friend with 
the news, and on Rinaldo refusing 
to submit to the ignominy of a 
trial, he persuades him to become 
a voluntary exile from the camp. 
Armida, having tried her arts in 
vain on Godfrey and Tancred, is 
now impatient for the promised 
aid. Godfrey is displeased at the 
eagerness of his knights to desert 
their cause and " join the 
maidens . ' ' The warriors are chosen 
by lot, and Armida departs with 
her escort. Many others follow in 
secret. Godfrey hears the disas- 
trous news that the food supply 
has been seized by Arabs, and 



JER 

strengthens the flagging courage 
of his men, although far from 
sanguine himself. 

Book VI. Argantes, impatient 
at the inaction, requests per- 
mission to attack the Christians. 
Aladine bids him curb his zeal, 
informing him that Solyman of 
Nice is collecting men from all 
quarters for the purpose of invad- 
ing the Christian camp. Finally 
sanction is given to defy the 
enemy in single combat, and 
Argantes sends a challenge to the 
Franks. Tancred is chosen as 
champion, and exultingly fares 
forth. Espying Clorinda, who 
had followed Argantes' train, Tan- 
cred stops to gaze on her. Im- 
patient at the delay, Otho spurs 
forwards and encounters the Sara- 
cen. He is vanquished and taken 
prisoner. Tancred awakes from 
his stupor and engages Argantes 
in a terrific combat which lasts till 
evening. They are parted by the 
heralds, and decide to renew the 
combat when their wounds are 
healed. Erminia, who while one 
time a prisoner in the Christian 
camp, had fallen in love with 
Tancred, is grieved over his wounds 
and resolves to visit him. She 
disguises herself in Clorinda's 
armour, and accompanied by a 
trusty squire leaves the city. She 
sends a message to Tancred, and 
awaits his answer. While alone, 
she is attacked by a scouting party 
of Christians, and flies. The news 
reaches the hero, who beheving 
it to concern Clorinda, departs in 
search of her. 

Book VII. Erminia, in her 
flight, meets an old shepherd, who 
befriends her. Tancred, while 
pursuing the supposed Clorinda, 
loses his way, and meeting a 
messenger is treacherously con- 
/aucted to the castle of Armida 
and made prisoner. Argantes 



198 JER 

arrives on the day appointed for 
the fulfilment of their compact. 
Tancred being absent, and the 
flower of their chivalry already 
dispersed in divers ways, the 
remaining warriors lack the courage 
to take her place. Godfrey re- 
proaches them for their cowardice, 
and resolves to meet Argantes. 
Raymond dissuades him, and after 
a stirring speech, despite his years, 
proposes to meet the Saracen. 
Roused by his words, the knights 
vie with each other in their eager- 
ness to oppose the pagan. They 
cast lots and the lot falls to 
Raymond. He enters the hsts, 
and the powers of good and evil 
influence the flght. Raymond has 
the advantage, when, through a 
breach of warfare, Beelzebub inter- 
rupts the combat, and a general 
battle ensues. The pagans are 
almost defeated, when a storm 
arises which turns the scale in 
their favour, and the Christians 
are routed. 

Book VIII. The infernal powers, 
seeking to thwart the Christians, 
work their purpose through a 
Dane, who arrives with the news 
of a disastrous defeat of the Danes 
by a band of Arabs led by Soly- 
man. Swem, their leader, is killed 
and the Dane is instructed to 
present his sword to Rinaldo, 
bidding him use it in his revenge 
on Solyman. At this point a 
foraging party return with un- 
deniable proofs of Rinaldo's death. 
Argillan, instigated in a dream by 
a demon, causes civil war in the 
camp by throwing the suspicion 
of Riualdo's supposed murder on 
Godfrey, and inciting the Italians 
to revolt. Godfrey queUs the 
tumult by a noble speech, causes 
Argillan to be bound, and resolves 
to lose no time in attacking 
Jerusalem. 

Book IX. Solyman, incited by 



JER 

an evil spirit, with his Arahs 
attacks the Christian camp by 
night, with great slaughter. God- 
frey, encouraging his men, opposes 
them, but the infidels are rein- 
forced with help from Clorinda 
and Argantes. God forbids the 
infernal powers to interfere with the 
fight — and the battle wages with 
unabated fury. Argillan escapes 
from prison and performs vahant 
deeds, but is MUed by Solyman. 
The fortunes of the day are still un- 
decided, when the Christians re- 
ceive unexpected aid from a small 
band of knights, and the victory 
is declared in their favour. The 
pagans are defeated, and Solyman 
forced to retreat, vowing future 
vengeance on the Christian host. 

Book X. Solyman, while pur- 
suing his way to Gaza, is accosted 
by Ismeno, who persuades him 
to return. The magician conveys 
him in an enchanted chariot to 
Jerusalem, and then conducts him 
through a subterranean passage 
to the council-hall of the Saracens, 
where unseen he hears their de- 
bates. Revealing himself, he is 
received with joy by Aladine. 
Meanwhile Godfrey discovers that 
the band of warriors who timely 
came to his assistance, were those 
who had followed Armida. One of 
them relates their adventures : 
how they were immured in dun- 
geons, and then sent captive to 
Damascus. Rinaldo rescues them 
on the way. The news is received 
with Joy, and Peter the Hermit, 
becoming inspired, prophesies the 
return and future glory of Rinaldo. 

Book XI. On the advice of 
Peter the Hermit, the Christians 
implore the assistance of Heaven, 
and form a sacred procession. The 
pagans are first awe-stricken, and 
then amused at the spectacle. 
The call " to arms " is given. 
Raymond, on beholding his chief 



199 JER 

without the customary armour, at 
once suspects his intention of 
scaling the walls, and remonstrates. 
Godfrey replies that on joining the 
sacred cause he had vowed to set 
aside rank and become a humble 
soldier. The other leaders follow 
his example and march on foot. 
The Christians reach the fortifica- 
tions,and form a canopy by holding 
their shields aloft to ward off the 
enemy's missiles. Adrastus, the 
first to scale the walls, is wounded 
by an arrow. Many others follow, 
and are deterred by the same 
means. A breach is made by the 
battering rams. Godfrey enters, 
but is wounded by an arrow from 
Clorinda, and forced to retire. 
The Saracens gain courage, and 
almost win the day through the 
marvellous bravery of Solyman 
and Argantes. Tancred comes to 
the rescue, and the tide of war is 
turned. Godfrey is miraculously 
treated by an angel, and renews 
the attack until nightfall. 

Book XII. Clorinda, eager to 
emulate the heroic deeds of Soly- 
man and Argantes, resolves to 
bum the wooden tower of the 
Christians — one of their engines 
of warfare, which Solyman had 
partially destroyed the preceding 
day. She confides her purpose to 
Argantes, who, fired by her zeal, 
is desirous of aiding her. Arsetes, 
who had reared Clorinda from 
infancy, is warned in a dream, 
and endeavours to dissuade her 
from the enterprise ; but in vain. 
He tells her the story of her birth, 
and that she was bom of Christian 
parents. Under cover of darkness, 
the two adventurers sally forth 
and fire the tower. The Christians 
pursue them. Argantes reaches the 
city in safety ; but in the con- 
fusion the gates are hastily closed, 
and Clorinda is left outside. Tan- 
cred, unaware of her identity, 



JER 



200 



JER 



pursues her, and they engage in 
deadly combat. Clorinda is mor- 
tally wounded, and feeling death 
approaching desires to be bap- 
tized in the Christian faith. Tan- 
cred fetches water for the purpose, 
and as he raises her helm, recog- 
nizes the maid. His grief is in- 
tense ; and when she expires, he 
falls senseless by her side. He is 
discovered by some Christians and 
conveyed to the camp. Clorinda 
is reverently interred with funeral 
pomp, and Tanered recovers from 
his wounds. The news spreads 
to the Saracen host, and Argantes 
vows vengeance on Tanered. 

Booh XIII. Ismeno by his 
enchantments peoples the forest 
with demons, and commands them 
to guard the trees from the 
Christians. Godfrey sends his 
workmen to fell timber for be- 
sieging purposes. They are terri- 
fied and flee. Soldiers are next 
sent, but they also return in a 
panic. Alcastus boasts that no 
terrors can daunt him, and sets 
out alone for the enchanted wood. 
Finding his courage deserting him 
at the strange sights he beholds, 
Alcastus returns humbled and 
ashamed. Several of the others 
attempt the adventure, but in 
vain. Tanered next undertakes 
to test his courage, and passes 
successfully through the various 
ordeals which had vanquished his 
companions . Finally he succumbs 
to a new illusion which takes the 
form of his beloved Clorinda. The 
Christian army is afflicted by 
drought, and reduced to the last 
extremity. Discontent spreads 
among the troops, many declaring 
that the drought is sent by God, 
who is displeased with them. The 
Grecian commander deserts with 
his squadron, and many others 
follow. Godfrey invokes the assis- 
tance of Heaven, and help imme- 



diately comes in the shape of the 
much-desired rain. 

Book XIV. Godfrey is shown 
in a dream the futility of earthly 
ambitions, and is inspired with 
fresh courage. He is coimseUed 
to recall Rinaldo, for only through 
him will the spell of the magic 
woods be broken and the waning 
spirit of his men strengthened. 
Godfrey enquires of the vision if 
he is to summon Rinaldo by 
threats or entreaties, and is told 
it is not seemly for a king to plead, 
but if others entreat he must 
yield. Guelpho pleads for his 
nephew's return, and Godfrey 
consents. Ubald and Charles the 
Dane are appointed envoys. They 
are instructed by Peter the Hermit 
to proceed to A^calon, where they 
are entertained by a Christian 
magician, who shows them many 
wonders. He describes the 
manner in which Armida — furious 
at being defrauded of her prisoners 
by Rinaldo — ensnared him through 
her enchantments. He warns the 
knights of the dangers before them, 
and how they are to be avoided. 
He also shows them the method 
of deUvering Rinaldo from the 
power of the sorceress. 

Book XV. The two knights take 
their leave of the hermit, who 
presents them with the map, 
buckler, and golden wand, with 
which they are to overcome the 
spells of Armida. They embark in 
a ship steered by a beautiful 
maiden. She indicates the various 
places of interest in their voyage 
through the Mediterranean. On 
reaching the Straits of Gibraltar, 
Ubald questions the fair pilot 
about the unexplored seas beyond. 
She repUes that since the time 
Hercules erected his pillars many 
unsuccessful attempts had been 
made to search the sea and coun- 
tries afar. She predicts the 



JER 



201 



JER 



discovery of Columbus, and the 
spread of the Gospel in heathen 
lands. They reach the Fortunate 
Isles, and Charles asks to be 
allowed to view some of the strange 
countries, but his request is re- 
fused. They arrive at the Island 
of Armida, where after giving 
certain instructions their guide 
leaves them. The knights ascend 
the mountain, and overcome all 
obstacles by aid of the golden 
wand. They resist the temptation 
of sensual allurements, and finally 
reach the palace of Armida. 

Book XVI. Charles and Ubald 
wander in the maze, but consult 
the map and find their way out. 
They discover Rinaldo and his 
mistress in the garden. At the 
departure of Armida, the knights 
approach Rinaldo, who feels his 
war-Hke nature aroused at the 
sight of their armour. Beholding 
his own reflection in Ubald's shield, 
he is ashamed at the contrast, and 
also at Ubald's reproaches on his 
unmanly daUiance. He abandons 
his life of slothful ease and accom- 
panies his deliverers. Armida 
follows them, and tries aU her arts 
to induce Rinaldo to return, but 
in vain. She becomes exhausted, 
and faints. The warriors embark 
on a vessel bound for Palestrae. 
Armida recovers from her swoon, 
and finds her lover gone. Grief 
replaces rage,and,plaiming revenge, 
she destroys her enchanted palace 
and takes flight to Egypt. 

Book XVII. The caHph reviews 
his army. The ausdhary forces 
are described. Armida arrives 
when the caliph is conferring the 
sole command of the army on 
Emirenes. The troops hail him 
as leader. A grand banquet is 
given. Armida, determined to be 
avenged on Rinaldo, promises her 
hand in marriage to the warrior 
who kills him. A quarrel arises 



over the championship between 
Adrastus and 'fisaphemes. The 
caliph intervenes, and bids Armida 
quell the disputants. Rinaldo and 
the two knights return to Palestine 
and are met by the aged hermit, 
who adjures Rinaldo to use his 
noble gifts for higher purposes. 
He presents him with a suit of 
armour, and Rinaldo is fired to 
emulate the famous deeds of his 
ancestors emblazoned on the shield. 
The Dane now hands him brave 
Sweno's sword, and bids Rinaldo 
avenge his death. The hermit, 
accompanies them to Jerusalem, 
predicts new glories to Rinaldo's 
race, and foretells the reign of 
Alphonso the Wise. He takes 
leave of the knights within sight 
of the camp. 

Book XVIII. Rinaldo, on re- 
turning to the camp, is graciously 
received by Godfrey, and warmly 
greeted by his friends. He is 
granted absolution from the hermit 
Peter, and repairs to Mount OHvet 
to offer his devotions. He pro- 
ceeds alone to the charmed forest j 
resists the temptations, and there- 
by breaks the spell. The Chris- 
tians commence hewing trees, and 
building their engines of destruc- 
tion. Godfrey rescues a dove 
from the claws of a falcon, and 
intercepts a message fastened 
under its wing to the Saracen 
king, informing him of the 
approach of the Egyptian army. 
Godfrey determines to hasten the 
assault, and assigns to each leader 
his particular post. Tancred's 
squire Vasrino is sent as spy to the 
Egyptian camp. Godfrey, with a 
strategic movement, draws up his 
battering rams and towers on the 
enemy's strongest side. But at 
night he reverses the position, and 
in the morning the Pagans are 
dismayed to find their weakest 
defences assailed. Godfrey attacks 



JER 



202 



JER 



the city, and is valiantly opposed. 
Great towers are reared against 
the walls. Ismeno uses his magic 
in trying to bum them ; but a 
wind arises and the fire is turned 
on the Pagans. Ismeno is Mlled. 
Rinaldo is the first to surmount 
the ramparts. The Archangel 
Michael appears to Godfrey, and 
shows him the spirits of former 
warriors assisting in the fight. A 
bridge is thrown across from one 
of the towers to the adjoining 
walls, and Godfrey essays the 
passage. Solyman opposes him, 
but in vain, and Godfrey plants 
the standard of the Cross on the 
walls of Jerusalem. 

Book XIX. Tancred and 
Argantes single out each other, 
retire from the city and engage 
in a fight to the death. Argantes 
is slain and Tancred faints from 
wounds. Slaughter is rampant 
within the walls. The infidels take 
refuge in Solomon's temple. 
Einaldo and his men pursue them, 
break down the door, and a 
massacre follows. Solyman and 
Aladine intrench themselves in 
David's tower, Rajmiond opposes 
them, but is knocked down help- 
less. Solyman urges his followers 
to drag Rajonond within the tower. 
Seeing their chief's danger, the 
Christians attempt a rescue ; and 
at the appearance of Rinaldo, the 
Pagans reluctantly retreat to the 
tower. Night falls, and the strife 
ceases. Vasrino arrives at the 
Egyptian camp. He hears that 
some underhand plot is formed to 
take Godfrey's life, the nature of 
which he is at first unable to dis- 
cover. He meets Erminia, who 
explains to him that a number of 
Pagans who had sworn to take 
Godfrey's life are going disguised 
as Christians, and will mingle 
among their foes. Erminia con- 
fesses to him her love for Tancred ' 



and leaves the camp with Vasrino. 
They find the Wounded Tancred, 
who recovers from his swoon, and 
is ministered to by Erminia. A 
band of soldiers appear who had 
been sent in search of their leader. 
They convey Tancred to the city, 
and also the body of his enemy 
Argantes, which he commands to 
be reverently interred. Vasrino 
seeks Godfrey, and relates the 
discoveries he has made in the 
Eg3rptian camp : how Rinaldo's 
life is sought by many a Pagan 
warrior, with the hope of winning 
Armida in reward ; and how 
Godfrey is to be overcome by 
treachery. The Christian army 
prepares for its encounter with 
the Egyptians. On the advice of 
Raymond an alteration is made in 
the dress of Godfrey's guard, with 
the view of thwarting the enemy's 
schemes. 

Book XX. The Egyptian army 
arrives, and each side prepares for 
battle. Godfrey and Emirenes 
inspire their hosts by a spirited 
speech. The Christians advance. 
GQdippe is the first to gain dis- 
tinction. She and her husband 
perform valorous deeds. Alta- 
morus exacts heavy toll from the 
Christians. GUdippe attacks him 
and is wounded. Ormond, the 
instigator of the vile plots, leads 
his disguised men into Godfrey's 
presence. They are recognized 
and killed. Rinaldo defeats the 
Moors and Arabs with great 
slaughter. He passes Armida's car, 
and she fires her arrows at him, 
which glance off his armour. 
Armida's followers are slain, and 
she is unprotected from the enemy. 
Altamorus sees her peril, forsakes 
his troops, and goes to her assist- 
ance. He reahzes his mistake too 
late, and his men are routed. 
Solyman views the battle from the 
tower, and unable to control his 



JOP 



203 



JOS 



impatience at the inaction leaves 
the fortress accompanied by Aladine 
and his followers. Raymond is 
feUed to the ground by Solyman, 
who rushes past seeking a more 
worthy foe. Tancred, recovering 
from his wounds, hears the tumult, 
and arrives in time to save Ray- 
mond from the Pagan horde. 
Raymond slays Aladine, and un- 
furls the banner of the Cross from 
the tower. Soljnnan, in the thick 
of the fight, spurs the waning 
courage of the Infidels. GUdippe 
is slain by Solyman. Edward sup- 
ports her and receives his death- 
blow. Adrastus and Solyman are 
killed by Rinaldo. Tisaphemes 
next engages him, and after a 
terrific fight is also killed. When 
Armida sees her last champion 
slain, she escapes from the field. 
A touching scene occurs when 
Rinaldo surprises her in the act 
of attempting her own life. A 
mutual understanding follows with 
satisfaction to both. Godfrey kiUs 
Emirenes, and takes Altamorus 
prisoner. The sacred cause is won 
by the Christians, and Godfrey 
pays his devotions at the hallowed 
shrine. 

JOFRID. {Vide " Gunnlaug Saga.") 
Wife of Thorstein Egilson ; mother 
of Helga. 

JOHN OF FLAGY. The name of a 
scribe or poet whose name is in- 
scribed on the best MS. of the 
third portion of the romance of 
Garin the Lorrainer. He appears 
to have been a native of Cham- 
pagne. His version enjoyed great 
popularity, and must have been 
well known in Britain, as King 
John of France bought a copy of 
Garin le Loherain in Eondon to 
beguile his captivity there. Du- 
meril states that eleven out of 
twelve MS. consulted by him re- 
produced it more or less faithfully. 



Elagy's local knowledge gives re- 
markable verisimiUtude to his 
text, and denotes that he was 
probably accustomed to earn his 
livelihood as a wandering minstrel 
from castle to castle. The text 
may be referred to the last quarter 
of the twelfth century. 

JONAANS, JONANA, or JONAS. Al- 
luded to in Grail romance as the 
fifth in line from Celidoine, and 
ancestor of Lancelot and Galahad. 
He married the daughter of King 
Moroneus of Wales. 

JONAKR. {Vide" Volsvaigs.") Wed- 
ded to Gudrun {q.v.) after the 
d,eath of Atli {q.v.). 

JORMUNREK. {Vide " Volsungs.") 
King, betrothed to Swanhild {q.v.), 
who fell in love with his son 
Randwer {q.v.). This caused him 
to slay the lovers. He was subse- 
quently slain by . Gudrun's sons, 
Jonakr {q.v.), Saurli {q.v.), and 
Hamdir (q.v.). 

JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA. While 
he is chiefly known as the member 
of the Jewish Sanhedrin or Council 
who begged the body of Jesus for 
burial, he also appears in connec- 
tion with the incidents of the 
Grail quest. He is mentioned as 
explaining to Evelach — a pagan — 
who cannot understand the In- 
carnation, that the Virgin was 
rendered pregnant by the oversha- 
dowing of the Holy Ghost through 
her ear, and that her virginity was 
no more hurt than is water when 
a sunbeam enters it. However, 
Evelach's {q.v.) atheistical views 
are not to be moved, although he 
afterwards has a miraculous 
dream and is eventually baptized. 
It is mentioned that Joseph co- 
habited with his wife, not as the 
lustful do, but was so filled with his 
love for his Saviour that he had no 
desire. Scenes are pictured in 



JOS 



204 



which Christ's passion and cruci- 
fixion are again brought before 
Joseph's eyes. He has a son Jo- 
sephes (q.v.), who gives the vessel 
of Christ or Holy Grail into the 
hands of Sir Galahad. In Eobert 
de Borron's poem, Joseph of 
Arimaihea, it is related that 
Brons and Enygeus, who have 
twelve sons, are greatly troubled 
and consult Joseph, who prays 
before the Holy Vessel ; they are 
told that eleven will marry, and 
one remain single : this one is 
Alain. Joseph tells all about 
Christ's death and about the vessel 
to Alain, and that from him will 
issue an heir who is to keep the 
vessel ; Alain is to take charge of 
his brethren and sisters and go 
westwards. Alain, as Joseph 
taught him, preaches Jesus Christ. 
It is mentioned that God spoke to 
Joseph in prison concerning the 
Secrets of the Grail. Alain is to be 
called the Rich Fisher, from a great 
fish he caught ; he is to keep the 
vessel and to pass it on to the son of 
his son. Joseph stays three days 
with him, and then the good fisher 
goes away to " the land where he 
was bom," and Joseph remains. 

JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA. A 

romance, one of a metrical trilogy, 
written by Robert de Borron {q.v.) 
which also includes his Merlin, 
and another poem not now extant 
(c. 1170-1212). It describes how 
Joseph of Arimathea collects 
Christ's blood in a vessel, and is 
cast into prison by the Jews. 
There he is visited by the Re- 
deemer, who gives him the Grail 
vessel filled with his blood, and 
entrusts him with esoteric phrases 
of power, further instructing him 
to yield the vessel to three persons 
only, who will take it in the name 
of the Trinity. Joseph is released 
by Vespasian after many years, 



JOS 

and on issuing from prison con- 
verts his brother-in-law and his 
sister, Brons and Enygeus. Be- 
cause of fleshly sin, the hand of 
God falls heavily upon the Chris- 
tian band, and on the intercession 
of Joseph he is told that he must 
make a table to commemorate that 
at which Christ sat at the Last 
Supper. A vacant seat is to be 
provided at the table, which will 
be filled when Brons and his wife 
possess a son. Later, on the 
violent death of a wicked person 
who attempts to fill the seat, 
Joseph is told that not Brons' son 
but his grandson must fill the seat. 
Brons and Enygeus have twelve 
sons, all of whom marry save 
Alain, who is instructed to lead 
his brethren towards the West, 
at the same time being assured 
that his seed shall be keepers of 
the GraU. Joseph is further in- 
structed that Brons must keep 
the Grail after his death, and must 
be told the words of awful power 
vouchsafed to him in prison. 
Brons having caught a feh by 
means of which sinners are de- 
tected, is to be called the Rich 
Fisher, and is to give the vessel of 
the Grail to his grandson. The 
tale practically ends with the 
Grail being intrusted to Brons, 
who sets out with it, leaving 
Joseph behind. The work has 
been carelessly copied and edited, 
and in places greatly abbreviated. 
Several prose versions exist which 
were brought up-to-date so far as 
the progress of the Grail legend 
had gone in their day. Incon- 
sistencies abound, and Borron has 
obviously attempted to collate 
two versions of the legend. But 
the " Joseph " is the only work 
on the Grail, saving the Parzival 
of Wolfram, which exhibits any 
signs of having been animated by 
the spirit of Christian symbolism. 



JOS 



JOSEPH OF EXETER or JOSEPH 
ISCANUS. He dedicated to Arch- 
bishop Baldwin a Latin poem 
in six books upon the subject 
of the Trojan War, founded 
on Dares Phrygius {vide "Dictes 
and Dares "), and completed when 
Henry II. was preparing for the 
crusade preached by Baldwin. He 
. wrote also on Antioches, of which 
there remains only a fragment, cele- 
brating British heroes. Warton, 
in his History of Poetry, calls this 
writer " a miracle of his age in 
classical composition," praises his 
pure diction, sound periods, and 
harmonious numbers, adding that 
his style includes all the graces of 
Ovid, Statins, and Claudian. 

JOSEPHES, JOSEPHE, JOSEPHDS, or 
JOSAPHES. In Grail romances, son 
of Joseph of Arimathea {q.v.). He 
only with his father Joseph is 
allowed to touch the wooden ark 
for the dish of the Holy Grail 
which the Lord commanded Jo- 
seph to make. Josephes is bidden 
by Christ to celebrate the Sacra- 
ment daily. He, with his father, 
ultimately overcome Evelach's 
{q.v.) unbeUef. Evelach's land 
being overrun by his enemy Tho- 
lomes (q.v.) Josephes tells Evelach 
that this ill-hap is to remind him 
of his lowly origin. He further 
explains Kmg Evelach's dreams. 
In the quest of the Grail, Josephes 
is mentioned as having been smit- 
ten in the thigh for having left his 
proselytizing work to trouble about 
the contemners of God's law, 
and he was told that the mark 
of the wound would stay with 
him all his life, and that the iron 
spear would remain in the wound 
so that he would Ump. Josephes 
brings Mordrains, Sarraquite, and 
Nasciens to the Holy Shrine, and 
shows them the vessel wherein is 
Christ's blood. Josephes converts 



205 JOS 

many people at Camelot. He 
comes to a hill called Hill of the 
Giant ; it is a Friday, and Brons 
is sitting next him at the Grail- 
table, but between the two is a 
space for a man to sit, and Brons, 
Josephes' kinsman, asks him why 
he does not invite some one to fill 
it. Josephes replies that only he 
who is a hoUer man than any 
present can fill that place, as it 
typifies Christ's seat at the Last 
Supper, and is empty, waiting His 
coming, or that of one whom He 
shall send. After this, Alain {q.v.) 
is the only one of Bron's twelve sons 
who chooses virginity and the ser- 
vice of the Holy Grail. Josephes, 
after fifteen years' wandering,comes 
back to Galafort, and finds his 
brother Galahad (not to be con- 
founded with Sir Galahad) grown 
up. By Josephes' advice he is 
elected king. His last appearance 
seems to be as a bishop, when he 
gives the body of God to Sir Gala- 
had and reveals himself as the son 
of Joseph of Arimathea. 

JOSUE. In Grail romance, brother 
to Alain {q.v.), with whom he 
travels to the Terre Foraine, and 
whose daughter he marries. At 
the wedding so great was the power 
of the GraU that all present felt as 
if fiUed with the finest meats. 
Josue eventually becomes king 
and Grail Keeper. 

JOSYAN. {Vide " Bevis of Hamp- 
ton.") Daughter of Ermyn, a 
Saracen king. In love with Bevis 
for many years, and after many 
perilous adventures married to 
him. She was forced first to 
marry King Inor, from whom 
Bevis dehvered her. When at 
Cologne, she was beset by Sir 
Mile in Bevis's absence, and 
married him only to strangle him. 
She was nearly burned at the stake 
for this. After her marriage she 



KAI 



206 



EAR 



gave birth to twin sons in a forest, 
was carried off, and was rescued 
by Saber. She wandered about 



with him till she found Sir Be vis. 
She died at Mounbraunt, where 
her husband was sovereign. 



K 



KAI. The seneschal, or sewer of 
King Arthur, known in the French 
romances as Messire Queux or 
Maitre Queux or Kuex, his name 
being thus altered to adapt it to 
his ofSce of chief of the cooks. 
His character is usually treated as 
a curious mixture of courage and 
buffoonery, and his prowess is by 
no means equal to his pugnacity. 
He is prominent in the Morte 
d' Arthur. In his Brythonic or 
Welsh Celtic form of Cai ap Cynyr, 
he, was the son of Cynyr Cainva- 
rawc, the son of Gwron, and in 
the Triads he is alluded to as one 
of the three diademed chiefs of 
battle. In the tale of Kilhwch 
and Olwen {vide " Kilhwch ") in the 
Mahinogion, we meet with sure 
evidence of the mythological 
nature of Kai in the passage which 
states that his " breath lasted nine 
nights and nine days under water, 
and that he could exist nine nights 
and nine days without sleep." 
Moreover a wound from his sword 
could not be cured, he could make 
himself as tall as the highest tree 
in the forest, and so great was the 
heat of his nature that during rain 
whatever he carried remained dry. 
This would make it appear that 
Kai was originally a divine being 
who, through a series of mytholo- 
gical processes, had degenerated 
into a mere hero. The charac- 
teristics attributed to him would 
seem to point to his having 
originally been a rain-and-thunder 
deity, his watery propensities being 
accounted for by his pluvial afBni- 
ties, and his heat by his possession 



of the Ughtning. A similar form 
is to be found in the Tlaloc or god 
of moisture of the ancient Mexi- 
cans, or in Indra a deity of the 
Hindus. The words " very subtle 
was Kai " are almost sufficient to 
prove his possession of the light- 
ning. 

KALAFIER. In the Grand St. Graal, 
a hater of Christians who accuses 
Nasciens of having killed Mor- 
drains, and succeeds in having 
him and his son CeHdoine cast 
into prison, Kalafier acting as his 
jailer. A miraculous hand ap- 
pears from a cloud and, striking off 
Nasciens' fetters, transports him 
from the prison. Kalafier, follow- 
ing, is struck down by the hand. 
On his death-bed he orders that 
CeHdoine be cast from the battle- 
ments, but heavenly hands bear 
him up, and Kalafier is smitten 
with fire and goes to eternal death. 

KARAHEUT. In Carlovingian ro- 
mance. King of India. He offered 
to fight Ogier the Dane on the 
occasion of Charlemagne's resisting 
a Saracen invasion of Italy, so that 
many lives might be spared in a 
general conflict, the city of Rome 
to be the prize of the victor. 
Karaheut takes Glorianda, the 
daughter of Corsuble, a Saracen 
emir, and his betrothed, to witness 
the combat. The combat is in- 
terrupted by the paynim, and 
Ogier is taken prisoner, much to 
the disgust of the chivalrous 
Indian Mng, who gives himself up 
to Charlemagne. When Ogier is 
freed, Karaheut is permitted to 



EAR 



207 



KEV 



depart with Glorianda in con- 
sideration of his good faith. 

KARDEI. Alluded to in the Par- 
zival of Wolfram von Eschenbach 
as the twin brother of Loherangrin 
or Lohengrin. 

KARL {Vide "Burnt Njal.") A 
Viking who succoured on the seas 
Grim and Helgi {q.v.), NJal's sons. 
With them he made friends, and 
again lent his aid when Yarl 
Hacon was pursuing them upon a 
false charge. Kari married his 
friends' sister Helga ; assisted 
NJal's sons in the slaying of Thrain 
(q.v.), Hrapp (q.v.) and Hanskuld 
(q.v.) ; and escaping the burning 
Bergthors-knoU, avenged his 
friends' terrible death. Finally 
he made friends with the leader 
of the burners, Plosi, whose niece, 
HaUgerda (g.w.j.Hanskuld's widow, 
he married some time after Helga's 
death. 

KARNIFEES. (Fi<fe "Sir Otuel.") A 
Saracen knight, a fierce fighter. 
He was slain in an encounter with 
Sir Otuel. 

KARR. (Fide "Grettir Saga.") The 
dead father of Thorfinn (q.v.). This 
evil spirit was robbed of his trea- 
sure by Grettir, and by him laid 
to rest. 

KEELTA MAC RONAN. In Irish 
romance, one of the chief men of 
Finn. He was one of his house- 
stewards, a strong warrior and a 
golden-tongued reciter of tales and 
poems. Some time after he had 
seen St. Patrick and received the 
faith, he was wounded while 
fighting against pirates for the 
Fairy Folk of the Mound of Duma. 
For his reward they promised him 
youth. But this he refused, say- 
ing it would be accepting sorcery, 
and was healed of his wounds and 
all bodily evil. He represents all 
that is courteous, dignified, gene- 



rous, and valorous in paganism, in 
contradistinction to St. Patrick, 
who symbolizes all that is benign 
and gracious in Christianity. 

KEEVAN OF THE CURLING LOCKS. 

The lover of Cleena (q.v.), who 
went ofE to hunt in the woods, 
leaving her to be abducted by the 
fairy folk. 

KEINGALA. (Vide. " Grettir Saga.") 
The weatherwise mare of Asmund. 
Her master beUeved in her weather 
prophecies, and setting his younger 
son, Grettir the Strong, to tend 
the horses, bade him be guided by 
this mare, who would return home 
before the oncoming of a storm. 
The lad, however, put little faith 
in Keingala, and as she persisted 
in remaining upon the cold and 
bitter hill-side, grazing upon the 
scanty grass, he determined to 
cure her of the habit, for he was 
frozen with the cold. He there- 
fore, one morning, flayed a strip 
off her hide from wither to flank 
and then turned out the horses. 
The mare soon trotted stable- 
wards. This was repeated the 
next day ; and as no storm was 
impending, Asmund himself then 
let out the horses when he noticed 
the mare's hurt. 

KENVERCHYN, In Welsh romance, 
the owner of three hundred ravens 
which he left to Owain. 

KET. Son of Maga (q.v.). In Irish 
romance a foremost champion of 
Connacht. With ConaU's (q.v.) 
" brain ball," he wounded the 
Ulster King Conor mac Nessa (q.v.), 
which was the cause, seven years 
later, of Conor's death. His own 
end he met in single combat with 
ConaU of the Victories. 

KEVA OF THE WHITE SKIN. In 

Ossianic romance, daughter , of 
Finn (q.v.). She became the bride 
of Goll mac Moma (q.v,). 



KIA 



208 



KIN 



KIAN. In Irish legend, father of 
Lugh {q.v.) ; brother of Sawan 
and Goban (q.v.). His magical 
cow with her wonderful supply of 
milk was stolen by Balor {q.v.). 
In revenge for this theft Kian, 
with the aid of Birog, a druidess, 
gained access to Ethlinn {q.v.), 
daughter of Balor, and became 
father to three sons. Two of 
these were drowned by their 
grandfather's order, the third, 
Lugh, escaping death by faUing 
into a bay, whence he was rescued 
by Birog and wafted to his sire. 
Some years later, while on a 
mission to the fighting Danaans 
in Ulster, Kian fell in with the 
three sons of Turenn {q.v.), whose 
house was at enmity with him. 
Seeking to escape their notice he 
turned himself into a pig and 
joined a herd rooting in the plain. 
But in vain, for the brothers de- 
tected him, and he was wounded 
with a spear cast by the brother 
Brian. Conscious that death was 
approaching he prayed permission 
to regain his human shape. This 
was granted him, and he rejoiced 
in having outwitted Brian, for 
now the blood-fine to be paid by 
his slayers would be that for a 
man instead of for a pig. The 
brothers, determining that there 
should be no blood-stained weapon 
to pubhsh the deed, stoned Kian 
and buried his body. 

EILYDD. In Welsh legend, husband 
of Goleuddydd ; father of Kul- 
hwch {q.v.). 

KIMBAY. A legendary Irish king 
who lived about 300 B.C. During 
his reign, Ulster was founded with 
its capital, Emain Macha {q.v.). 

KING CONSTANT. A French ro- 
mance of the thirteenth century. 
It relates the story of King Con- 
stant ; and might also be entitled 



" The Origin of the Name Con- 
stantinople." In the days when 
Constantinople was called Byzan- 
tium, there lived a Paynim em- 
peror, called MuseUn, who was 
versed in the science of astronomy. 
Going forth one night accom- 
panied by a certain lord, he heard 
a man on the roof of his house, 
alternately praying that his wife — 
who was in childbed — ^would be 
deUvered of a child, and again 
that she would not. The contra- 
dictory prayers went on for some 
time, and the emperor's curiosity 
was aroused. Accosting the man, 
he inquired the reason of the 
seeming inconsistency of his utter- 
ances. The man replied that he 
was a student of astrology, and 
that if the hour of birth were im- 
propitious, some great misfortune 
would overtake the child ; but, on 
the other hand, if the hour were 
favourable, prosperity would be 
its lot. A son had now been bom, 
he added, and to a goodly heritage. 
The emperor inquired the nature 
of the heritage. And he was told 
that the child would marry the 
emperor's daughter, and in time 
become king. The emperor was 
wroth, and privately commanded 
a knight to secretly abduct the 
child, which he did ; whereupon 
the king stabbed the infant, 
vowing that it would never hve to 
sit on his throne, and also com- 
manded the knight to throw the 
child into the sea. On his way to 
obey the mandate, the knight's 
heart was touched with pity for 
the new-bom babe, and he left 
him lying on a warm muck-heap 
before a certain abbey. The 
monks found the child— who was 
not dead — and carried him to the 
lord abbot. When he saw the 
grievous wound, he sent for phy- 
sicians, and they promised to cure 
the child for eighty golden pieces. 



KIN 



209 



In consequence of this he was 
called " Constant," because of his 
costing the abbey so great a sum. 
The boy grew in stature, and was 
of extraordinary beauty, as well 
as proving an apt scholar ; there- 
fore he became a favourite of the 
abbot, and accompanied him when 
he went abroad. One day it 
chanced that the abbot paid a 
visit to the Emperor Musehn, who 
was greatly struck with the beauty 
vof the lad, and desired to know 
about him. Whereupon the abbot 
related the story of the foundling. 
When he spoke of the dagger 
wound, the emperor knew that 
this was the child he had tried to 
kill. So he besought the abbot 
to allow the young man to enter 
his service. After due consulta- 
tion with his monks, the abbot 
sanctioned the proposal, for ho 
dared not thwart the Saracen 
king. When the emperor had 
Constant in his power, he con- 
sidered how he might secretly 
destroy him. He therefore wrote 
a letter to the Castellan of Byzan- 
tium, commanding him to slay the 
bearer ; and sent Constant with it, 
who was unaware he was carrying 
his own death-warrant. When he 
arrived at the palace, it was the 
dinner-hour ; so he sat down to 
rest in the garden, till a more 
opportune moment, and straight- 
way fell asleep. The young prin- 
cess and her maidens were plajdng 
in the garden, and happened upon 
the sleeping youth. Knowing him 
to be the bearer of letters and 
anxious to learn the news, the 
princess softly withdrew the fatal 
missive. As she read the contents 
she was sorely grieved, for she had 
never beheld so comely a person as 
the young man before her. Taking 
one of her maidens into her confi- 
dence, she wrote a letter bidding 
the castellan give her in marriage 



KIN 

to the bearer of the letter ; and to 
proclaim high festival, and invite 
all the people to the wedding ban- 
quet. This done, she sealed it 
with her father's seal, and slipped 
it beneath Constant's girdle. 
When the young man awoke and 
presented the letter, no one ap- 
peared more surprised when the 
contents were made known, than 
the princess. She pretended re- 
luctance, but was overruled by the 
dignitaries of the realm, who dared 
not be party to opposing the Im- 
perial commands. The marriage 
was celebrated amid great rejoic- 
ings. When the emperor returned, 
he found the people still feasting 
and merrymaking. When he 
heard the reason, he pondered 
deeply, and knew his daughter to 
be at the bottom of it. He came 
to the conclusion that it was no 
use striving against what was 
written in the stars, so he decided 
to make the best of it. On the 
death of Muselin, Constant reigned 
in his stead ; and his wife and all 
in his realm were converted from 
paganism to Christianity. His 
son was also called Constant, and 
it was in his reign that the city was 
first called Constantinople. 

KING HORNB, GESTB OF. An 

English metrical romance, founded 
upon an older French romance en- 
titled Le Roman du Roi Horn, of 
which there remain only two frag- 
ments, one of 2386, the other of 
2494 lines. This French romance 
was written by one Maistre Thomas 
and is regarded by Ritson and M, 
de la Rue as a composition of the 
latter portion of the twelfth 
century, whereas the English adap- 
tation dates, according to Percy, 
to within a century of the Con- 
quest. But it is now admitted on 
all hands to be not older than the 
reign of Edward I. It recounts 

V 



KIN 



210 



KIN 



how Mury, King of the Satacens, 
lands in the kingdom of Suddene, 
where he kills the Mng, named 
Allof. The queen, Godyllt, es- 
capes ; but Mury seizes on her 
son, Home, a beautiful youth of 
fifteen years, and puts him in a 
galley with two of his playmates, 
Achulph and Fykenylde. The 
vessel being driven on the coast of 
the kingdom of Westnesse, the 
young prince is found by Aylmar, 
king of that country, brought to 
court, and dehvered by Athelbrus, 
his steward, to be educated in 
hawking, harping, tilting, and 
other courtly accompUshments. 
Here the Princess Rymenild falls 
in love with him, declares her 
passion, and is betrothed. Horn, 
in consequence of this engagement, 
leaves the princess for seven years, 
to demonstrate, according to the 
ritual of chivalry, that by seeking 
and accompHshing dangerous enter- 
tarises, he deserves her affection. 
Tie proves a most valorous and 
invincible knight, and at the end 
of seven years, having killed King 
Mury, recovered his father's king- 
dom, and achieved many signal 
exploits, recovers the Princess 
Rymenild from the hands of his 
treacherous knight and companion 
Fykenylde, carries her in triumph 
to his own country, and there 
reigns with her in great splendour 
and prosperity. 

KING ROBERT OF SICILY. An 

English romance of the fourteenth 
century, the authorship of which 
is unknown. It has never been 
printed. It tells how King Robert 
of Sicily was beguiled by pride into 
sneering at a priest who read Mass. 
The father warned him of haughti- 
ness, saying that nothing might 
bring him down from his high 
estate. An angel is sent by the 
Almighty to lower Robert's pride. 



and he, taking Robert's shape 
upon him, transforms the king 
into the likeness of his own fool. 
He is sent out to He with the dogs, 
in which condition he envies 
those curs which were per- 
mitted to rest in the king's hall. 
At length the Emperor Valmounde 
sends letters to his brother King 
Robert, inviting him to visit along 
with himself their brother, the 
Pope of Rome. The angel in 
Robert's guise welcomes the mes- 
sengers, and after a long and 
ignominious penance restores 
Robert to his proper shape. 

Vide MS. Vernon ut sup. Bibl. 
Bodl. f . 299 ; Caius Coll. Cambs. 
MS. ClafE. E. 147, 4 ; Brit. Mus. 
MS. Harleian, 525, 2, f. 35., cod. 
Membran. 

KING ROTHER. An epic poem, the 
original authorship of which is 
ascribed by Von der Hagen to the 
first half of the twelfth century, 
but which was evidently re- 
written later. The king, who 
dwells in the town of Bar (or Bare) 
by the Western sea, is advised by 
his courtiers to take a wife. 
Count Lupolt describes the beauty 
of Constantine's daughter, the 
King of Constantinople. But every 
man who has sought her has lost 
his life. Margrave Herman pro- 
poses sending Lupolt as envoy. 
Lupolt is willing even at the risk 
of his Hfe, but begs for eleven 
knights to be sent with him. 
They cross the sea, and ride to 
Constantine's court, splendidly 
apparelled. Both king and queen 
receive them graciously, for their 
raiment proves them to be men of 
note. Lupolt praises the wealth 
and wonders of King Rother's 
court, and then sues for the hand 
of the fair princess for his master. 
Constantine is wroth and casts 
the embassy into prison. A year 



KIN 



211 



KIN 



and a day elapses. King Rother 
becomes anxious about the fate of 
his knights, and resolves to go in 
search of them. Preparations are 
made for their departure ; they 
take vast treasures, and people 
come from far and near to join 
the expedition. Among them is 
the giant Asprian, who brings with 
him a troop of fellow giants. The 
king determines to employ stra- 
tegy, and commands all who ac- 
company him to call him Thiderich 
(or Dietrich), and so hide his 
identity. They are made welcome 
at Constantine's court. " Die- 
trich " complains to him of ill- 
treatment from King Rother, and 
offers his services, and begs pro- 
tection from Clonstantine. By the 
advice of his counsellors, and 
through fear of the giants, Constan- 
tine accepts his services, and also 
tells him that he holds as prisoners 
some of Rother's messengers. 
" Dietrich " distributes gifts with 
a lavish hand among Constantine's 
people, and many gather round 
him for the sake of the ofEerings. 
The queen is constantly remiading 
her lord what a powerful man this 
King Rother must be, and how 
foolish they were not to give him 
their daughter. A great festival 
is given by Constantine, and the 
young princess is attracted by 
" Dietrich's " fine appearance and 
costly dress. Wishing for an 
interview with him, and through 
help of a mutual artifice, he is 
taken to her apartments. She 
declares her love for King Rother, 
and he makes known his real 
identity. She replies that she 
cannot be sure if he is telling the 
truth, while " Dietrich " cunningly 
answers by asking to see the 
prisoners who will at once recognize 
him. After another ruse on the 
part of the fair lady, the prisoners 
are brought forth, and recognize 



Rother by his playing the harp. 
At this time a great host from 
Babylon, under a heathen named 
Yn;ielot, is on its way to attack 
Constantinople. The twelve 
knights are set free, and enter 
Rother's corps, who joins forces 
with Constantine. They set out 
to meet the foe. Rother and his 
men attack the enemy during the 
night. The giants vanquish the 
heathen, and Ymelot is taken 
prisoner. Constantine thanks 
Rother for his services, and the 
latter suggests that a messenger 
should be sent to tell the ladies 
the good news. Constantine bids 
him do so himself ; so he starts 
for Constantinople, taking with 
him only his own men. Arrived 
there, he teUs the queen that 
Ymelot has slain the king and his 
knights, and is hastening towards 
them. The queen and her 
daughter entreat Rother to take 
them with him. They make for 
the ships and hastily embark. 
Rother takes his daughter on 
board, but leaves the mother 
behind. In answer to her tears, 
he tells her that Constantine is 
aUve and on his way home, and 
that Ymelot is taken prisoner. 
The queen is overjoyed at the 
news, and the ships depart amid 
good wishes from all. Constan- 
tine is greatly distressed at the 
loss of his daughter, and in the 
confusion Ymelot escapes. A 
minstrel offers to bring back the 
king's daughter, if he is provided 
with a ship and a goodly store of 
merchant's wares. The ship is 
made ready, and reaches " Bare " 
during the absence of King Rother. 
The minstrel sells his wares at the 
lowest prices, and proclaims that 
he possesses a stone of such virtue, 
that if a queen held it in her hand 
no one should die, for a mere touch 
of it would revive them ; even the 



KIN 

crooked would be made straight, 
only she must come on board the 
ship. A knight, who has two 
deformed children, entreats the 
queen to make the trial. She does 
so, and the instant she is aboard 
the ship sets sail. There is grief 
in Bare over the loss of the lady, 
and when Rother arrives he gathers 
together an army and sails for 
Constantinople. Landing at a 
secluded part, disguised as a pil- 
grim, he takes with him two 
knights, and a good horn, which is 
to give warning if he is dis- 
covered ; and departs to the court 
of Constantine. Meeting a knight 
on the way, he is informed that 
Ymelot attacked Constantine, who, 
to save his kingdom, promised him 
Rother 's wife for his son BaU- 
struin, the compact to be sealed 
that night. Constantino is seated 
at table with Ymelot and BaU- 
struin, by whose side, greatly 
grieved, sits Rother's wife. Rother 
and his knights mix among the 
crowd round the table, and the 
disguised king succeeds in giving 
his wife a ring with his name on it. 
They are discovered, Balistruin 
threatens to drown him, and 
Rother asks to be hanged on the 
hill near the wood. Rother is 
bound, to the bitter grief of the 
young queen, and all the people 
bewail his fate. At the gallows a 
rescue is made. Rother's bonds 
are cut, and he blows the horn 
which summons his own men. 
The heathen are routed, but 
Constantino's life is spared. King 
Rother, his queen, and aU his 
retinue return to Bare, where a 
son is bom, whom they call Pepin, 
afterwards the father of Charle- 
magne. The Rother story is thus 
connected with the Charlemagne 
cycle, but visibly belongs not so 
much to Germany proper as to 
Germanesque Italy, and may be 



212 KIN 

said to represent a Lombard sub- 
cycle. Von der Hagen points out 
some analogies between Rother 
and the later poems of the Nibe- 
lungen cycle, such as Otnit and 
Wolf dieter ich, as weU as with the 
Norse Wilkina Saga of the thir- 
teenth century. Ludlow beheves 
the legend to have been originally 
Lombardian, not only because of 
the name of its hero, but because 
of his capital " Bar " or " Bare," 
which he identifies with Bari in 
Southern Italy. The Carlovingian 
connection he believes belongs to 
a later elaboration of the tale. 



KING OF TARS. An EngUsh romance, 
probably of the fourteenth century, 
never printed. Its fuU title is 
The Kyng of Tars, and of the 
Soudan of Dammias {Damasctis), 
how the Soudan of Dammias was 
cristened thoru godis gras. It re- 
counts how the Soldan or Sultan 
of Damascus hears great bruit of 
the beauty of the daughter of the 
King of Tars, and dispatches am- 
bassadors to her father craving her 
hand, but without success. The 
sultan grows very wroth at the 
reply of the King of Tars (Tarsus), 
which is pitched in opprobrious 
terms, and calls his parliament 
together. He collects a great 
army, and marches on the do- 
minions of the King of Tarsus, 
who is a Christian monarch, 
whereas his would-be son-in-law is 
a Mussulman. The " Saracens " 
prevail, and the King of Tarsus 
flees. To prevent further blood- 
shed, the princess declares that she 
is wilHng to be married to the 
sultan, although a pagan, and 
notwithstanding that her father 
withholds his consent she finds 
means to escape to the sultan's 
court in order to cement a peace 
through their marriage. They 
are married, and the wedding is 



KIN 



solemnized by a great tournament 
which they both view from a high 
tower. The princess is afterwards 
delivered of a son, who is so de- 
formed as to be almost a monster. 
At length she persuades the sultan 
to embrace the Christian faith, 
and the young prince is baptized, 
after which he suddenly becomes 
a prodigy of beauty. The sultan 
destroys his Saracen idols with a 
great stone. " With steme strokes 
and with grete, on Jovyn and 
Plotoun, on Astrot and sire Jovyn," 
and releases 30,000 Christians. 
He is attacked by the neighbour- 
ing Saracen lords, but succeeds in 
beating them off. 

KING'S QUHAIR, THK. {Vide article, 
" James I.") A poem attri- 
buted to King James I. of Scot- 
land. It is written in what is 
usually called " rhyme royal," a 
metre used also by Spenser, Gower, 
and Dunbar ; and the poet tells 
how he wooed and won his bride, 
with a beauty which makes his 
work one of the gems of early 
Scottish literature. The chief evi- 
dence for ascribing the poem to 
the king consists in the saying of 
Major, a Scottish historian of the 
fifteenth century, who affirms that 
James " left behind him many 
writings and songs, which are to 
this day remembered among the 
Scots, and reckoned to be the best 
they have. He wrote an in- 
genious little book about the 
queen while he was yet in cap- 
tivity and before his marriage." 
Clearly the author refers here to 
the Quhair, and Major's state- 
ment is in some degree corro- 
borated by two other mediseval 
historians, Bower and Boece, who 
both assert that James was a 
writer. Unfortunately, however, 
they give no particulars about his 
writings ; while the earliest exist- 



213 KIN 

ing manuscript of the Quhair, one 
in the Bodleian Library, is dated 
1475. This is thirty-eight years 
after the death of the king, but 
that fact does not vitiate the 
ascription to him, for both at 
beginning and end of his docu- 
ment the scribe attributes the 
poem to " King James of Scot- 
land ye first." 

Major tells that the king wrote 
" another ingenious song of the 
same kind. Fas sen, etc." {sic). 
Now there is a poem in manuscript 
in the Pepysian Library which 
begins, " Sen that eine that worlds 
my weilfare " ; and several editors 
of the writings ascribed to James, 
assuming that the MS. is slightly 
mutilated and the word " Yas " 
gone, have contended that this 
poem is what Major refers to, and 
have therefore included it in 
James's works under the title of 
" Song on Absence." But a study 
of the MS. does not lead one to 
suppose that it has suffered much 
from the hand of time, or that the 
word in question has been erased, 
and accordingly the authorship of 
the poem remains a mystery, 
while equally mysterious is yet 
another one also referred to by 
Major. He speaks of the king 
writing " that pleasant . . . poem 
at Beltane " ; and some vmters 
have imagined that the poem thus 
cited is no other than the famous 
"Pebhs at the Play," which 
begins, " At Beltane, quhen ilk 
bodie bownis." But here, too, 
the evidence in favour of the king 
having been the author is slight 
in the extreme, while the language 
of the poem certainly suggests a 
later period than James's. 

Two further pieces of verse are 
likewise attributed to James, 
Christ's Kirk on the Green and 
Good Counsel. The ascription in 
the former case rests on the fact 



KLI 



214 



that George Bannatyne, who, in 
the sixteenth century, made a 
collection of early Scottish poems, 
named the king author of Christ's 
Kirk. And as regards Good Counsel 
all that can be said is that, in The 
Gude and Godlie Balletis, first 
pubhshed in 1567, this poem is 
included along with the words, 
" Quod King James the First." 

KLINSCHOR or KLINGSOR. Bord of 
the Magic Castle wherein are kept 
Arthur's mother and other queens. 
He is nephew to VirgiUus of Naples, 
and is overcome by Gawain. He 
is alluded to in the Parzival of 
Wolfram von Eschenbach. 

KNIGHT OF THE LION. (ChevaHer 
au Lion.) A French Arthurian 
romance, composed about 1160 by 
Chretien de Troyes. Sir Ewaine 
had wed a fair lady, and after a 
week of feasting he must join his 
master, who had ridden forth 
against the heathens . The parting 
was one of sorrow, and with a 
promise on his Hps that he would 
return by that day twelvemonth, 
he took his leave of his weeping 
wife. He joined King Arthur, 
and, as of old, was first in every 
fight. When the war ended he 
did not ride homeward, for the love 
of adventure was strong within 
him ; but on he went, achieving 
fresh victories. The twelve 
months passed, and one day as he 
sat in the feasting-hall of his king, 
the queen reminded him of his 
vow to his wife. He was on the 
point of riding oS when a damosel 
entered and demanded from him 
the ring which his wife had given 
him, to whom he had acted so 
faithlessly. Overwhelmed by his 
wife's anger he left the court and 
fied into the forest. His reason 
left him and, tearing off his 
armour, he roamed about naked 
and insane. In this manner he 



KNI 

lived for a year, and but for a 
kindly hermit he encountered no 
one. At last the fever abated and 
the good recluse clothed him afresh 
and sent him on his way. But 
Ewaine had changed. No more 
did he love conquest, and he vowed 
never to use his sword but for 
good. He left the forest and 
tramped many weary miles. But 
one night as he was about to rest 
he came upon a lion and a dragon 
which struggled fiercely. Seeing 
the dragon smothering the lion 
under his mighty bulk, the hero 
rushed upon the fiery monster, and 
with one swing of his good sword 
clave its body in twain. The lion 
arose and went toward its deliverer, 
licked his feet, and fawned upon 
him. All night long the beast 
kept guard over the brave knight. 
On the morrow, Ewaine set out 
on the road, accompanied by the 
lion, which befriended him and 
sought prey, on which they fed. 
One day they came to a castle ; 
but the porter on seeing the lion 
would not drop the drawbridge, 
and as Ewaine would not desert 
his companion, he besought the 
lord of the castle, who made wel- 
come both knight and beast. But 
sorrow reigned over the castle, the 
inhabitants of which were under 
the tyranny of a great giant who 
had imprisoned the four sons of 
their lord, and now every day 
came to the castle wall demanding 
his fair daughter. Ewaine did not 
hesitate to meet the giant, who, on 
seeing his challenger, mockingly 
advised him to retreat, but the 
good knight heeded him not, and 
straightway flung his spear at his 
opponent. The giant met his 
onset with his heavy iron club. 
Throwing him to the ground he 
was about to deal the fatal blow, 
when the Hon rushed over the 
parapet and overthrew the giant. 



KNI 



Ewaine arose and cut off the 
oppressor's head. With tears of 
thankfulness the lord, his knights 
and their ladies rejoiced in the 
victory and ever after he was 
caUed '[ The Knight of the Lion." 
Soon his valour was heard of in 
Arthur's court, and the king at 
last sent forth three of his famous 
knights, that they might secure 
him to the brotherhood. Accord- 
ingly, Sir Lancelot, Sir Gawaine 
and Sir ELay, the boaster, rode out 
of the castle, each taking different 
paths. On they went passing 
town, village and dale which rang 
with the victor's achievements. 
But of his whereabouts they knew 
not. Sir Kay soon gave up the 
search, and turning his steed in 
the direction of the court he was 
confronted by the object of his 
search. The boaster immediately 
challenged Ewaine, and bringing 
their horses together, Ewaine sent 
Sir Kay grovelling in the dust. 
Without waiting any further he 
pursued his way with the faithful 
lion. Sadness, however, overtook 
him, and despite the sympathy 
which the beast displayed, he was 
on the point of slaying himself 
with his sword, when from a 
chapel on the wayside a maiden 
appeared. To her he told of his 
misfortunes, and she in turn re- 
lated how the cruel Sir Salados had 
imprisoned her mother within his 
castle. Hardly had Ewaine time 
to offer his sympathy when the 
knight in question appeared, and 
without more ado they came 
together in combat. Long and 
fierce waxed the fight, amid a 
storm of thunder and lightning ; 
and at last Sir Salados took flight. 
Ewaine took up the chase until 
they came to Salados' castle, into 
which the latter took refuge. 
Glancing around he saw the figure 
of the imprisoned lady. Then Sir 



213 KUL 

Salados appeared with an army of 
knights ; but the faithful lion 
bounded over the battlements, 
threw the wicked Salados to the 
ground, and scattered the knights 
in confusion. Ewaine now rid 
himself of his enemy by cutting 
off his head. The maiden, followed 
by Sir Lancelot and Sir Gawaine, 
rode up. " The knight of the 
Lion " threw off his disguise and 
was recognized by all. The im- 
prisoned lady came forward and 
knew him to be her long-lost 
husband. They wept for joy, and 
in one kiss forgave all the sorrow 
of these seven years. 

KNIGHT OF THE TOMB. Or, the 
Black KLnight. A knight who dwelt 
in a tomb, striving against all 
comers for the sake of his love. He 
was overcome by Perceval, and 
driven back into his gloomy dwell- 
ing. The incident is alluded to in 
the Conte del Graal (q.v.). 

KOLSKEGG. (Vide "Burnt Njal.") 
Brother of Gunnar {q.v.). 

KRIEMHILD. (Vide " Nibelungen- 
lied.") Wife of Siegfried and 
daughter of King Giuki. She 
married King Etzel (q.v.) upon the 
death of her first husband, upon 
whose slayers she meted out a 
terrible vengeance. 

KULHWCH. In Welsh romance and 
myth, son of Kilydd and Goleud- 
dydd. His stepmother, in her 
jealousy of him, declared that he 
would have no wife until he ob- 
tained Olwen, daughter of Yspad- 
daden Penkawr (" Hawthorn, King 
of Giants"). Being nephew to 
Arthur he sought his assistance in 
this quest. But Arthur, after a 
year devoted to the search, could 
find no trace of the maiden. Then 
Kulhwch, accompanied by Kai 
(q.v.), Bedwyr, a man of craft and ■ 
cunning unequalled in swiftness 



KUN 

and in might ; Kynddelig, who was 
a sure guide in strange as in 
familiar lands ; Gwrhyr, who could 
speak all languages, and Menw, 
who could throw a veil of invisi- 
bility over his party, set out to 
seek for Olwen. After much 
journeying they found themselves 
before a great castle, feeding in 
front of which was a flock of 
sheep, shepherded by Custennin, 
the ill-treated brother of Yspad- 
daden. The following day being 
Saturday, Olwen, whose footsteps 
gave birth to four white trefoils, 
came, as was her wont, to the 
herdsman's hut to wash her hair. 
Reciprocating the love of Kulhwch 
for her, she sent him to ask 
Yspaddaden for her hand in 
marriage. But he, aware that 
his end would come upon his 
daughter's bridal mom, sought to 
free himself of this suitor as of all 
others ; and twice, as the party 
were leaving his hall, he cast after 
them a poisoned dart, which, how- 
ever, some one of them caught 
each time and flung back at 
him, wounding him sorely. Then 
Yspaddaden named a great number 
of seemingly insurmountable diffi- 
culties, which Kulhwch must over- 
come before he could have Olwen 
as his wife. But the most difficult 
of all was the obtaining of the 
comb and scissors that were be- 
tween the ears of Twrch Trwyth, 
a king transformed into a huge 
boar, for there were many tasks 
attendant on this adventure. All 
these wonders were performed ; 
Kulhwch found his bride, and 
Goreu, the only remaining son of 
Custeimin, beheaded Yspadda- 
den. 



KUNHILD. Sister of Dietheb {q.v.). 
{Vide "Dietrich of Bern.") She 
mysteriously disappeared, but was 
found later to have been taken | 



216 KYM 



away by Laurin (q.v.), king of the 
dwarfs. 

KYMIDU KYMEIN-VOLL. In Welsh 
romance and myth, wife of Llassar 
Llaesgyvnewid. Matholwch {q.v.) 
had met this giantess and her 
husband with a cauldron on his 
back near a certain lake in Ireland. 
They took service with him ; but 
at the end of a year, the country 
being in an uproar on account of 
the outrages of their children, 
Matholwch determined to burn 
the whole family. To this end he 
set fire to a huge iron house into 
which he had enticed them, and 
blew it to a white heat. But 
husband and wife forced their way 
through the softened iron and 
came across to Britain. There 
they were housed and weU treated 
by Bran (q.v.), who, for his kind- 
ness, received the magic cauldron. 
Such was its power, that the slain, 
if cast into it, would regain Ufe 
and limb, but not speech. 

KYMON. A knight of Arthur's 
court. Fired with the love of 
chivalrous adventure, he set out 
one day in its quest. Reaching a 
magnificent castle he was gene- 
rously received and entertained, 
and was directed to a monstrous 
one-eyed, one-footed black man, 
who set him on his way to meet 
his " equal in combat." Kymon 
found a silver bowl on a slab of 
marble by the side of a fountain 
under a great tree, as the black 
man had described. Following 
the instructions given, the knight- 
errant emptied the bowlful of 
water on the slab, when he almost 
succumbed to the terrific storm of 
hail that followed. Then syren 
songs burst from the throats of 
the birds upon the now leafless 
tree. At last there appeared a 
black knight, who worsted Kymon. 



KYM 



217 



The victor, passing the shaft of his 
lance through the reins of the 
riderless horse, turned his charger's 
head homeward. The unfortunate 
knight then returned to the castle, 
and with a new horse set off to 
Caerleon. This story is to be 
found in the Welsh tale of the 



LAB 

Lady of the Fountain, in the 
qion. 



KYNDDELIG. In Cymric legend, one 
of Arthur's servitors. Able to 
guide in strange, as in familiar 
lands, he accompanied Kulhwch 
{q.v.) on his quest for 01 wen. 



LABAN. {Vide "Sir Ferumbras.") 
Sovereign of Babylon. He hated 
the Christians and persecuted 
them. He captured Rome and 
took his booty to his city of 
Aigremor. He fought many battles 
with Charlemagne, and was at last 
betrayed by his daughter who 
became a Christian. He was 
taken prisoner by Charlemagne, 
who would have saved his hfe if 
he would have been baptized, but 
refusing this, he was executed. 

LABBL. In Grail romance, a 
heathen king to whose realm Celi- 
doine, son of Nasciens, was trans- 
ported by supernatural agency. 
(F»(i!e"Kalafier.") HewinsLabel's 
favour by expounding a dream of 
his, but at Label's death is cast 
adrift in a boat with a Uon. He, 
however, comes safe to Nascien's 
island. (FitZe " Celidoine.") 

LABOR, KING. Father of the Maimed 
Kiag, in Arthurian romance. He 
was the mortal enemy of King 
Hurlame, who, with the Grail 
sword, defeats him. ( Vide " Morte 
d'Arthur.") 

LABRA THE MARINER-MAON. Son 

of Aihll (q.v.) and grandson of 
Laery (q.v.). When a child he was 
compelled by Covac {q.v.), his 
granduncle, to swallow a portion 
of the hearts of his father and 
grandfather and a mouse with her 



young. His speech left him, so 
Covac let him go. Taken to 
Munster to the kingdom of Fera- 
more, he was then sent to Gaul 
and treated as a future king of 
Ireland. But the daughter of the 
King of Feramore, out of her 
passion for him, composed a 
beautiful poem which was set to 
music by Craftiny {q.v.),h.QV father's 
harper. This Craftiny took to 
Gaul, and by its enchanting virtue 
Maon regained his speech. The 
exile then set out with an armed 
force to wrest the Irish throne 
from the usurper. Covac was 
slain. Maon received the name 
" Labra the Mariner," from the 
circumstances that he could speak 
{labraidh), and that he was the 
captain of the GauHsh fleet with 
which he invaded Ireland. Like 
the Greek King Midas, Labra had 
the ears of a horse. So, in order 
to keep secret this deformity, he 
had his hair cropped once a year 
by a man chosen by lot, and put 
to death afterwards. Once this 
lot fell to a poor widow's son. 
With tears and beseechings, how- 
ever, she prevailed upon Labra to 
spare her son, who swore by the 
sun and the wind to keep the 
secret. But the weight of this 
burden was too much for him. 
So, with the advice of a Druid, 
taking a certain direction, he 
whispered the deadly secret to the 



LAC 



2l8 



LAM 



first willow tree he came across, 
and returned home light-hearted 
as of old. One day, however, 
Craftiny, requiring a new harp, 
cut down this willow tree, and to 
the amazement of all in the king's 
hall, in response to the harper's 
first touch of the strings, it chimed 
the words : " Two horse's ears 
hath Labra the Mariner." The 
secret was out, and no one was 
again put to death on its account. 
This tale has a counterpart in 
Hindu romance. 

LA COTE MALE-TAILE (so-called 
because of his ill-fitting coat). 
Otherwise Sir Bruinor le Noire. 
On entering the court of Arthur, 
he is treated as a scuUion. A 
damosel, Maledisant, leads him on 
a quest after a wicked knight, 
whom he subdues. Afterwards 
he marries the maiden. He be- 
comes the overlord of the Castle 
of Pendragon. (Vide " Morte 
d'Arthur.") 

LADMER, KING OF WESTENMER. A 
character in the romance of Diet- 
wart (q.v.). He entertains for a 
while Dietwart, who has fallen 
deeply in love with his daughter 
Minnie, to the gratification of 
Ladmer. He gladly consents to 
their marriage, and witnesses the 
slaying of the dragon by his Im- 
perial son-in-law. [Vide " Diet- 
wart.") 

LAEG. In Irish romance, friend, 
messenger, and charioteer of Cu- 
chulain (q.v.). He was slain by a 
spear aimed at Cuchulain and 
flung by Eewy (q.v.). 

LAERY (1). In Irish romance, son 
of King Ugainy the Great. He 
was treacherously slain by his 
brother Covac (q.v.). 

LAERY (2). The Triumphant. One 
of the three claimants, including 



Cuchulain (q.v.) and ConaU of the 
Victories (q.v.), of the champion- 
ship of Ireland. The test, how- 
ever, he was unwilling to undergo. 

LAERY (3). Son of Neill, King of 
Ireland. In the twelfth-century 
Book of the Dun Cow, a story is 
related of him which states that, 
remaining pagan, he had a vision 
of Cuchulain, whom St. Patrick 
summoned from HeU to prove his 
teachings. In the end Laery 
accepted the Christian faith. 

LAIRGNEN. In Irish romance a 
Connacht chief, betrothed to Deoca 
(q.v.). 

LAMBAR. Alluded to in the Queste 
del Saint Graal as the father of 
the Maimed King or Fisher King. 

LAMBERT LE TORS. A French poet, 
who is commonly supposed to 
have Mved at the beginning of 
the twelfth century. He is re- 
membered by virtue of his share 
in the Boman d'Alexandre, a 
popular epic of which a medisBval 
manuscript on vellum is extant 
in the BibUotheque Nationale (No. 
7633), and which recounts in 
verse of twelve syllable Hues the 
exploits of Alexander the Great. 
The poet was known among his 
contemporaries as Lamberz U Tors, 
while a misprint in the sixteenth 
century gained him the name of 
Lambert le Count, and to this 
day he is frequently styled thus. 
Nothing is known about his Ufe, 
but in a passage in the poem 
aforesaid he furnishes this side- 
light on himself : 

" La vert6 do I'estoire, si com li vois la 
fist. 
Tin clero de Chateaudun, Lamberz le 

Tors escrist. 
Que del Latin la traist et en remans 
la mist." 

It is hard to say how much of 
the Boman d'Alexandre is really 



LAM 

from Lambert's pen, but he is 
usually credited with those parts 
which deal with the pursuit and 
death of Darius, the wonders of 
India, the descent of Alexander 
to the bottom of the sea, the 
expedition against Porus, the 
voyage through the pillars of 
Hercules, the fight with the 
Amazons, and the second defeat 
and ultimate subjugation of Porus. 
Sundry other passages are probably 
his work also, notably those deal- 
ing with the duel between Porus 
and Alexander and the taking of 
Babylon, while he is said to have 
written further matter about Alex- 
ander which is now lost. His 
writing in general is but Ughtly 
esteemed, and he was superseded 
in public favour by a subsequent 
writer, Alexandre de Bemay, who 
completely re-wrote the Roman 
d' Alexandre, improving it con- 
siderably. 

LAMORAK, DE GALIS, SIR. Son 

of King PelUnore, and Knight 
of the Round Table. In Arthurian 
romance he is mentioned as 
being amongst the lovers of Queen 
Guinevere {q.v.). He is also the 
possessor of a magic horn, which 
proves a source of enjoyment to 
King Mark {q.v.). He is the cause 
of the Queen of Orkney's death 
at the hands of her son Gaheris, 
through his famiharity with her. 
He subsequently dies through a 
wound inflicted on him by Mor- 
dred. (Vide " Morte d'Arthur.") 

LANCE (SPEAR), THE GRAIL. Fre- 
quently referred to in Arthurian 
legend as the " bleeding lance." 
In Fumivall's text we read that 
Joseph opens the door of the ark 
and four " angels issue, two bear- 
ing burning lights, the third a 
cloth of red samite, the fourth a 
lance bleeding so hard that the 
drops run into a box he holds in 



219 LAN 

his other hand." It is probably 
intended to be symboMcal of the 
spear which the Roman soldier 
thrust in Jesus' side. 

LANCELOT (1). A knightly character 
of the Arthurian cycle, who, how- 
ever, does not bulk so largely 
in the earlier romances as his 
importance in Malory's Morte 
d'Arthur suggests. The original 
legend of his life and adventures 
is probably the mediaeval prose 
work entitled Lancelot, a rambUng 
romance composed of six sections. 
In the article dealing with Malory's 
Morte d'Arthur a summary of his 
history will be found. Other 
works in which he figures* are the 
Lanzelot of Ulrich von Zatzik- 
hoven, the Chevalier de la Char 
rette of Chretien de Troyes, the 
Diu Kr6ne of Heinrich von dem 
Turlin, Bigomer, and smaller poems 
such as Lancelot et le cerf au pied 
blanc. In the purely Celtic htera- 
ture connected with the Arthurian 
cycle he does not appear at all. 
Lancelot, who is generally alluded 
to as Sir Lancelot du Lac, was the 
son of King Ban, and was brought 
up by the enchantress Nimue, 
Lady of the Lake, who succeeded 
in imprisoning Merlin. As a youth 
he came to King Arthur's court, 
where by his prowess he speedily 
achieved great renown. But it 
was as the lover of Guinevere, 
Arthur's queen, that he became 
widely known in the Middle Ages. 
In this character he first appears 
in the Chevalier de la Charrette 
of Chretien, who may have in- 
vented the entire episode, although 
it is more probably a variant of 
the Tristram story (q.v.). The 
unknown author of the prose 
Lancelot, however, probably did 
not introduce the subject of his 
amours, and it had undoubtedly 
been altered by a later hand in 



LAN 



220 



order to include the love of 
Eancelot and the queen, as has 
the prose Merlin for the purpose 
of suitably linking up the first 
part of the cycle with the newly 
introduced portion. Lancelot's 
character in romance is that of a 
brave knight and generous man 
whose existence was overshadowed 
by his false love for Guinevere, 
which, instead of exalting his 
nature, emphasized his less noble 
qualities, whose " Honour rooted 
in dishonour stood." 

LANCELOT (2). Alluded to in the 
Grand St. Grail as grandfather of 
Sir Lancelot du Eac, and seventh in 
descent from Celidoine. 

LAUNCEOR. A knight of Ireland, 
and of the court of King Arthur. 
He was slain in battle by Balin. 
(Vide " Morte d'Arthur.") 

LAUNFAL, SIR, THE LAY OF. A 

French romance written by Marie 
de France (q.v.), who assigned a 
Breton origin to it. Sir Launfal 
was of the court of King Arthur 
at Carleon-on-Usk, and of high, 
though foreign, descent. But he 
was not loved by his lord, and at 
a feast of Pentecost, he only, of 
aU the royal servants, received 
no present from the king. Riding 
alone one day he essayed to cross 
a river, but his steed trembled 
and stood still. He therefore laid 
down upon the meadow through 
which the river ran and sought 
to sleep. Tossing and turning he 
kept ever awake, when looking 
towards the river he saw two 
beautiful maidens approaching him. 
The one carried a golden basin ; 
the other a pure white towel. 
Sir Launfal immediately rose to 
receive them. They greeted him, 
and one of them bade him, in 
the name of her mistress, visit 
that lady whose pavilion was 



LAU 

qxiite near. He followed the mes- 
sengers and came upon the damsel 
in all the glory of her beauty and 
splendour. Hither she had come 
from a far land to give Sir Launfal 
her love, a gift, if he were discreet, 
that would prove of higher worth 
than the riches of any king. He 
at once prayed that he might be 
her knight, and she, granting him 
her whole love, promised that he 
would have at his wiU anything 
he wished. But he must not 
reveal their passion. Richly clad 
by the lady's bounty. Sir Launfal 
returned to his lodging. He suc- 
coured the needy, freed the captive, 
and entertained the stranger lord. 
And at pleasure he had sight and 
speech of his damsel. That same 
year, about the feast of St. John, 
Launfal was disporting with other 
knights in an orchard that lay 
beneath the queen's tower. She 
beheld him in his manly beauty, 
and straightway offered him her 
love. But Uttle he cared for the 
offer, and in all gentleness refused 
it. Her pride wounded, the queen 
reviled him, when, in an evil 
moment, forgetting his promise 
to the beautiful damsel, he 
acquainted the royal lady of his 
love. Sad and wrathful, the queen 
besought her husband to punish 
Sir Launfal. He, she said, had 
importuned her with his love, 
and, upon her denying him, had 
boasted of his love for a damsel 
more beautiful and more noble 
than she. The unhappy knight 
was, therefore, upon a certain day 
tried before his peers ; but at 
the moment of the judgment two 
richly dressed maidens came riding 
into the court and sought hospi- 
tahty for their lady and them- 
selves. The prisoner, however, 
knew none of them. Again, at 
a similar critical moment, two 
other damsels approached the 



LAU 



221 LAY 



king for the same purpose. Nor 
did Sir Launfal recognize these, 
and once more as sentence was 
about to be pronounced there 
rode into the court the flower of 
all the ladies in the world. Hither 
she had come to prove the case 
against the queen. Then with 
her lover she rode away to the 
island of Avalon, dim and fair. 
Nor were the knight and his lady 
heard of again. 

LAURIN, or DER KLEINE ROSEN- 
GARTEN. A Tyrolese romance 
of the late thirteenth century 
attached to the saga-cycle of 
Dietrich of Bern (q.v.). It tells 
of a dwarf king who possesses a 
wonderful rose garden into which 
no one may enter without the 
loss of a hand and foot. Dietrich 
and his follower Witege enter it, 
and the latter rides his horse 
through the rose bushes. Laurin, 
the dwarf, appears on horseback 
and dismounts Witege, but is 
challenged by Dietrich. Hilde- 
brand, another of Dietrich's fol- 
lowers, appears upon the scene, 
but the dwarf dons his cloak of 
darkness, and Dietrich is wounded 
by his invisible foe. Laurin is 
then persuaded to wrestle with 
Dietrich, who wrenches o£E the 
dwarf's belt, which gives him 
superhuman strength, and over- 
throws the troll. Laurin now 
invites all to his mountain home 
to behold his treasures, and pro- 
vides them with a banquet, when 
they become intoxicated and are 
thrown into a dismal dungeon. 
They are released by Kiinhild, a 
mortal woman, whom Laurin had 
spirited away, who brings their 
weapons . The dwarfs are defeated 
and Laurin is taken a prisoner to 
Bern, where he becomes a Chris- 
tian convert, and latterly is re- 
leased, when Kiinhild is bestowed 



upon him. (See Deutsches Helden- 
buch, Pt. 1, 1866-78 ; McDowall, 
Epics and Romances of the Middle 
Ages, 1884.) 

LAVAINE, SIR. Son of Sir Bernard 
of Astolat (q-v.) and brother to 
Elaine de Bank and Sir Tirre 
(q.v.). He is fortunate in meeting 
with the favour of Lancelot, who 
befriends him. He is afterwards 
very conspicuous in Arthurian 
romance, displaying exceptional 
prowess in battle. He subse- 
quently Joins Lancelot's overseas 
party, when he is raised to the 
dignity of Earl of Arminak under 
Lancelot's rule. 

LAY OF THE LITTLE BIRD, THE. 

A French romance of the 
thirteenth century, which is a 
homily on covetousness. It treats 
of a beautiful garden, and a Httle 
bird which sang therein. The 
avaricious owner of the garden, 
hearing the bird sing, desires to 
possess it. He captures the bird, 
which begs to be released, and 
promises to tell him three secrets, 
from which he may gain much 
profit. The man does so, and 
the bird replies, first, that he is 
not to beheve all he hears ; 
second, not to regret what he 
has never lost ; and lastly, never 
to throw between his feet what 
he holds in his hands. The man, 
greatly enraged, answers that 
he knew them all from infancy. 
The bird replies, that if the man 
had known the third secret, he 
would not have set him free. 
And further, that in his body was 
a precious jewel weighing three 
ounces ; whoever owned it would 
have every wish gratified. On 
hearing that, the man was mad- 
dened with rage at having set 
the bird free. The bird adds to 
his chagrin by explaining that as 
he weighed less than half a ounce, 



LAY 



222 



LIB 



how was it possible for a jewel 
weighing three ounces to be hid 
in his body ? Moreover, he was 
already regretting what he had 
never lost, for he never possessed 
the jewel. And also, beUeving all 
he heard, he had flung the bird 
between his feet. Advising the 
man to study weU these three 
secrets, the bird took his flight, 
and from that day the garden 
began to wither, and nothing 
would ever grow in it. 

LAYAMON. An EngUsh priest of 
Emely or Arley Regis on the 
west bank of the Severn in Wor- 
cestershire, author of The Brut, 
the first work in English to present 
the legend of a Trojan conquest 
of Britain. From internal evi- 
dence it has been inferred that 
he wrote in the first decade of 
the thirteenth century, but nothing 
is known of his life or personality. 
It is probable that Layamon 
founded his poem on that of the 
same name by Wace (q.v.), but 
the two versions are by no means 
identical, as Eayamon made many 
additions either of his own in- 
vention or drawn from other 
sources. The work is of a high 
linguistic value, presenting as it 
does a unique picture of the 
EngUsh language in the transition 
stage between late Saxon and the 
speech of Chaucer. It contains 
56,800 lines, and was first pub- 
hshedinits entirety by Sir Frederick 
Madden in 1847, in three volumes, 
containing two texts (probably 
separated by an interval of fifty 
years), translation, and glossary. 

LEN. Goldsmith of Bov the Red 
(q.v.). From his name was derived 
the name Eocha Lein, the ancient 
appellation of the Lakes of Kil- 
larney, by the shores of which he 
used to work. 



LEODEGRANCE. King of Cameliard, 
in Arthurian romance, father of 
Guinevere. Arthur rescued him 
from King Rience of North Wales. 

LEUCANS. Alluded to in the Grand 
St. Grail as Josephes, cousin, and 
guardian of the ark in which the 
Grail dish was kept. 

LEVARCAM. In Ultonian romance, 
the nurse of Deirdre (q.v.). 

LEWY. Son of Curoi, foe to Cuchu- 
lain (q.v.) on account of the rape 
of his mother Blanid (q.v.). He 
slew his enemy, but met his death 
at the hands of ConaU (q.v.). 

LIA. In Irish romance. Lord of 
Luchar in Connacht, treasurer of 
the Fianna ; later treasurer to the 
Morna (q.v.). He was slain by 
the lad Finn (q.v.), chief of the 
opposing clan Bascna (q.v.). 

LIA FAIL. In Irish romance, the 
stone of Destiny. When the feet 
of rightful kings rested upon it 
this stone would roar for joy. 
It is now placed under the seat 
of the Coronation Throne in West- 
minster Abbey. 

LIBELLUS MERLINI. (Little Book 
of Merlin.) A Latin tract on the 
subject of the prophecies of Merlin 
(q.v.), written by Geoffrey of 
Monmouth (q.v.), (c. 1135). It 
purported to be a translation from 
the Welsh into Latin, and was 
incorporated by Geoffrey in his 
Historia Begum Britannice (q.v.), 
of which it forms the Seventh 
Book. He had, he says in the 
preface, been persuaded by the 
urgent requests of friends to 
pubhsh this translation, a state- 
ment of great likehhood, as his 
Libellus had met with immediate 
public recognition, contained the 
first information regarding the 
enchanter and was probably of 
some rarity. It is dedicated to 
Alexander, Bishop of Lincoln, 



LIB 



223 



because of the afEection Geoffrey 
" bore to his nobihty." Geoffrey 
prefaces his account of the pro- 
phecies with one concerning the 
deeds of a supernatural youth 
named Ambrosius, whom he had 
read of in Nennius, and deliber- 
ately confounded with MerUn. 
Vortigem, King of the Britons, 
asks Ambrose Merhn the meaning 
of a vision in which appear two 
dragons, red and white, in combat. 
Merlin rephes that the Red 
Dragon symboUzes the British 
race which would be conquered by 
the White Dragon, emblemistic of 
the Saxon power. A lengthy pro- 
phetic rhapsody follows couched 
in cryptic terms, relating chiefly 
to the Saxon wars, and with 
this the work as given in the 
Seventh Book of the Historia, 
the only source through which 
it has come down to us — con- 
cludes. It was, however, known 
in Iceland before 1218, in a form 
independent of the Historia (H. G. 
Leach, Modern Phililogy, viii. 
pp. 607 et seq.). This tract must 
not be confounded with the Vita 
Merlini, or Life of Merlin (c. 
1145 or 1148) generally, but not 
unquestionably, attributed to 
Geoffrey. {Vide Historia Begum 
BritannicB, Book viii.) 

LIBEOUS DESCONUS. {Vide " ILy- 
bius Desconus.") 

LIETRI. {Vide " Garin the Lor- 
rainer.") Abbot of St. Amand, 
Garin's nephew. He came with 
fifteen consecrated monks and 
thirty-six knights after Bego's 
death to Eens. He was so angry 
that he wanted to throw. off his 
monk's dress and fight, but was 
satisfied by Fromont's regrets. 
He headed the funeral procession 
to Metz, and delivered Fromont's 
letter to Garin, then with Garin 
he accompanied the body to 



LIF 

Bahn. He met Fromont at St. 
Amant and said Garin would agree 
to a truce if Fromont kept his 
promises, but he was wroth when 
he heard they meditated freeing 
the prisoners. 

LIFE OF HAROLD, KING OF ENG- 
LAND. A romance, chiefly re- 
lating to the recovery of Harold 
after the battle of Hastings, and 
his Ufe as a hermit, first near 
Dover, afterwards at Cheswardine, 
in Shropshire, and finally at 
Chester, in twenty chapters, pre- 
ceded by a prologue and a table 
of contents followed by a brief 
narrative of a similar kind, which 
professes to have been written 
by a hermit of Chester. The 
work is imperfect at the end. 
The romance opens with an 
account of the rise of Godwin 
and the campaigns of Harold 
in Wales, the discovery of the 
cross at Montainte in Somerset, 
its removal to Waltham and the 
foundation of a reHgious house 
there by Harold. Harold is wound- 
ed at Hastings, and left for dead 
on the field of battle. Edith, his 
betrothed, with the help of two 
Franks, removes him to Win- 
chester, where, under the skill 
of a Saracen woman, he is cured 
in two years' time. He makes a 
pilgrimage to Jerusalem and visits 
Rome ; he breaks the oath ex- 
torted from him by Wilham, and 
the oak tree at Rouen, under 
which he pledged his promise, 
sheds its leaves at the moment 
he does so. Harold returns to 
England after an absence of ten 
years ; he lives as a hermit at 
Dover for a similar period, but, 
taking the name of Christin, he 
crosses into Chester. His death 
and burial take place at Waltham. 
William of Malmesbury, says the 
romance, is said to have made a 



LIG 



mistake as to the death of Harold 
at Hastings, as did the canons of 
Waltham in identifying the body. 
Harold's brother, Gurtha, gave 
evidence before Henry II., in the 
presence of Canon Michael of 
Waltham, of his brother's exist- 
ence after the great battle. The 
absurdity of making Harold live 
so late as the first year of Henry II. 
(when he would be 130) is too 
glaring. Amongst modem writers 
it has been suggested that the 
story was written to celebrate 
the city of Chester. 

LIGHT OF BEAUTY. ( Vide " Sgeimh 
Solais.") 

LIJOD. Daughter of Preyja {q.v.) 
and wife of Volsung (q.v.). (Vide 
" Lay of the Volsungs.") 

LINET, DAME. Sister of Dame 
Liones, wife of Sir Gareth (q.v.), 
married to Gaheris, Gareth's 
brother. She accompanied Sir 
Gareth in his ride to the release 
of her sister, who was a prisoner 
of the Red Knight. {Vide " Morte 
d'Arthur.") 

LIONEL. In Arthurian romance, 
cousin of Lancelot, and brother 
of Bors, whom he quarrels with 
because he left him a prisoner in 
order to succour a distressed 
damsel. He is appeased by 
heavenly intervention. 

LIONES, DAME. Of the Castle Peri- 
lous, sister of Linet. She was one 
time a prisoner in the Red Laundes, 
but was subsequently rescued by 
Sir Gareth, whom she married. 
{Vide " Morte d'Arthur.") 

LIR. A sea-god, father of Mananan 
in Irish romance. He is com- 
parable with the Greek Oeeanus 
and the Cymric Llyr. 

LOATHLY DAMSEL, THE — KUN- 
DRIE. The Grail Messenger. One 



224 LOB 

would imagine that the holder of 
such an office would be saint-like, 
but Chrestien describes her as "a 
damsel more hideous than could 
be pictured outside heU." Wol- 
fram refers to her in his work as 
" Kundrie la Sorciere." 



LOBEIRA, JOAS. A mediaeval Por- 
tuguese romance writer. The 
exact dates of his birth and death 
are unrecorded, and, while some 
authorities hold that he lived 
during the reign of Alphonso III., 
in the beginning of the thirteenth 
century, others contend that he 
belongs to a considerably later 
period ; while one writer, Thomas 
Pires, the folk-lorist, has even 
tried to identify him with a 
certain Lobeira, who is known 
to have been living at Elvas at 
the beginning of the fifteenth 
century. Joas Lobeira is occa- 
sionally credited with a work 
more frequently ascribed to 
another author of the same sur- 
name, Vasco de Lobeira {q.v.), 
namely, a version in Portuguese 
prose of the famous old French 
tale of Amadis of Gaul ; but the 
claim on behalf of Joas in this 
relation has but slender support, 
resting as it does on Mttle more 
than the fact that, in a poem 
definitely proved to be his, he 
uses the same ritournelle as Oriana 
sings in Amadis. 

LOBEIRA, VASCO DE. A Portu- 
guese romancer who is credited 
with a version in Portuguese 
prose of the famous old French 
romance Amadis of Gaul, familiar 
in England owing to the excellent 
translation by W. S. Rose, 1803, 
and the precis of Southey. Vasco 
is supposed to have been bom at 
Oporto about 1365, and is known 
to have died forty years later. 
He appears to have been a soldier 
besides an author, and at the 



LOC 



225 



LUC 



outset of his career he followed 
the fortunes of the future King 
John I., who conferred the honour 
of knighthood on him soon after 
the battle of Aljubacotta in 1385. 
Vasco's Amadis enjoyed great 
popularity in the author's own 
day, and towards .the close of 
the sixteenth century a mediaeval 
transcript copy thereof was dis- 
covered at Lisbon, in the Ubrary 
of the Duke of Alveiro. This 
interesting document is no longer 
extant, unfortunately, the hkeh- 
hood being that it perished in 
a fire which occurred at Lisbon 
in 1753. It is impossible to say 
whether Vasco's work was really 
based on the original French, and 
it is quite possible that the Portu- 
guese gleaned the tale from some 
Spanish translation ; while it has 
been suggested, indeed, that his 
version of Amadis was in reahty 
the work of another Eobeira, 
Joas by name (q.v.). 

LOCH. In Irish romance, son of 
Mofebis. Sent by Maev {q.v.) 
against Cuchulain {q.v.). He 
wounded him, but was himself 
slain with Cuchulain's terrible 
weapon, the Gae Bolg. 

LOGRES, KINGDOM OF. The scene 
of many adventures of the knight 
Sir Galahad {q.v.). 

LOKL {Vide " Volsungs.") The 
Scandinavian god of evil. He 
was responsible for the death 
of Otter {q.v.). 

LOMBARD, EARL. {Vide "Guy of 
Warwick.") Attacked and slew 
Sir Urry in a combat, but was 
himseK killed by Sir Guy. 

LOMBARDY, DUKE OF. Father of 
Belisante {q.v.), a character in 
the romance of Amys and Amylion 
{q.v.), for whose education he was 
responsible. 



LONGIS. In Grail romance, a Roman 
soldier, who pierced the side of 
Christ whilst on the cross with the 
Grail lance. 

LOQUIFER. In Carlovingian ro- 
mance, a fairy giant, so called 
because he bears an enormous 
log as a weapon. He and Re- 
nouart {q.v.) agree that the issue 
of a campaign between the Sara- 
cens and Franks shall rest upon 
a single combat between them. 
They meet on an island near 
Porpaillart. Loquifer has in the 
hollow of his club a balm which 
cures all wounds at onee, but 
Renouart succeeds in depriving 
him of his weapon, slays him, 
and takes his three swords, " the 
best ever forged," whilst devils 
carry of^ his soul. {Vide " Battle 
of Loquifer.") 

LORET. {Vide " Guy of Warwick.") 
Princess of Greece. 

LOT. King of Eothian and Orkney, 
alluded to frequently in Arthurian 
legend and romance as the husband 
of Arthur's sister, Margawse, and 
the father of Gawaine. He made 
war upon Arthur on several occa- 
sions, notably that of the famous 
battle of the eleven kings. He 
allied himself with Nero, brother 
of King Rience of North Wales, 
against Arthur, as he was wroth 
with the latter for the seduction 
of his wife, Margawse {q.v.). In 
the battle which ensued he was 
slain by Pellinore. (See Malory's 
Morte d'AHhur, Book II. Chap. 10.) 

LOUIS LE DEBONAIR. Son of Charle- 
magne. {Vide " La Coronement 
Loeys," and the other Carlovingian 
romances under their several 
titles ; also " Charlemagne.") 

LUCAS. King Arthur's butler, son 
of Duke CoraeHS. He is alluded 



LUC 



226 



LUK 



to more frequently in the earlier 
history of Arthur, and along with 
Sir Kay and Sir Griflet had 
control of the king's household. 

LUCHTA. In Irish romance, the 
carpenter of the Danaan folk. 

LUCIUS. King of Rome. He warred 
against Arthur, and was subse- 
quently slain by him. {Vide 
" Morte d'Arthur.") 

LUDWIG. King of Ormany. {Vide 
" Gudrun Lay" and "Gudrun.") 
Father of Hartmut; husband 
of GerUnte. He aids his son to 
carry off Gudrun and kills Hettel 
{q.v.) at the battle of the Wulpen- 
strand, escaping with Gudrun, 
whom he fhngs into the sea on 
her refusal to wed his son, Hart- 
mut, who saves her. Many years 
later he is slain by King Herwig 
{q.v.), when he rescues Gudrun. 
( Vide " Gudrun " for fuller detaUs.) 

LUGH, In Irish romance, son of 
Kian {q.v.), father of Cuchulain 
{q.v.). He was brought up by 
his uncle, Goban the Smith {q.v.) 
and by Duach, King of Fairyland. 
Presenting himself before the 
palace of Tara, he announced 
himself as wishing to take service 
with Nuada of the Silver Hand 
{q.v.). After many refusals on 
the score of there being men 
already in the palace accomplished 
in all the arts, he at last gained 
admittance as Ildanach, "The 
All-Craftsman." He was also 
known as Lugh of the Long Arm. 
From the Land of the Living 
(Fairyland) he brought back the 
Boat of Mananan {q.v.), the Horse 
of Mananan, and Fragarach " The 
Answerer," a sword that was a 
match for any mail. Coming 
upon the Danaan chiefs assembled 
to pay tribute to the Fomorian 
envoys, he took the leadership 



of the oppressed, when aU the 
enemy save nine were slain. These 
he sent back to Balor {q.v.), with 
a message of defiance. But other 
magic gifts were required to ensure 
the victory which the druidic 
prophecy had foretold that Lugh 
would obtain over his grandfather, 
Balor. So instead of taking the 
lives of the three murderers of 
his father, Kian, he put them 
under geis or promise to obtain 
certain wonders, including the 
magical spear of the King of 
" Persia," and the pig-skin of the 
King of " Greece," which if laid 
on a patient would heal him of 
his wound or cure him of his 
sickness. Thus equipped, Lugh 
entered the Battle of Moytura 
against the Fomorians {q.v.), and 
by hurling a huge stone which 
pierced through the eye to the 
brain of Balor, fulfilled the druidic 
prophecy. Nuada falling in the 
field, Lugh succeeded him as 
Eang of the Danaans. Lugh was 
the Irish Sun-god ; his final con- 
quest of the Fomorians and their 
leader symbolizes the victory of 
hght and intellect over darkness. 
Balor was , god of darkness, and 
brute force as embodied in the 
Fomorians. By his title of " AU- 
Craftsman," Lugh is to be com- 
pared to the Greek ApoUo. He 
was widely worshipped by the 
Continental Celts. Llew Llaw 
Gyffes, the Cymric hero, cor- 
responds with the Irish Lugh. 

LUKAFERE. {Vide "Sir Ferum- 
bras.") King of Bagdat. He paid 
Laban tribute, and was a very 
fierce fighter. He brought 10,000 
Italian maids into the Saracen 
camp who were all slain by order 
of the Soudan. He wished to 
marry Floripas, who agreed on 
certain conditions which were 
never fulfilled. He was burned 



LYB 



227 



to death at Laban's palace by 
Duke Naymes, 

LYBIUS DESCONUS. An English 
poem of the Arthurian cycle, 
which has French, German, and 
Italian equivalents in Le Bel 
Inconnu, Wigalois, and Garduino. 
It dates from the end of the twelfth 
century. Sir Lybius is a natural 
son of Sir Gawain, a celebrated 
knight of King Arthur's court, 
who, being brought up in a forest 
by his mother, is kept ignorant of 
his name and descent. He early 
exhibits marks of his courage by 
kilhng a knight in single combat, 
whom he encountered as he was 
hunting. This inspires him with 
a desire of seeking adventures ; 
therefore, clothing himself in his 
enemy's armour, he goes to 
Arthur's court, to request the 
order of knighthood. His request 
granted, he obtains the promise 
of having the first adventure 
assigned him that shall offer. A 
damsel named Ellen, attended by 
a dwarf, comes to implore King 
Arthur's assistance, to rescue a 
young princess, " the Eady of 
Sinadone," their mistress, who is 
detained from her rights and 
confined in prison. The adven- 
ture is claimed by the young 
knight Sir By bins, and the king 
assents. The messengers are dis- 
satisfied, and object to his youth, 
but are forced to acquiesce. The 
first book closes with a description 
of the ceremony of equipping 
him. Sir Eybius sets out on the 
adventure. He is derided by the 
dwarf and the damsel on account 
of his youth. They come to the 
bridge of PeriU, which none can 
pass without encountering a knight 
called Wilham de la Braunch. 
Sir Eybius is challenged. They 
joust with their spears. De la 
Braunch is dismounted. The 



LYB 

battle is renewed on foot. Sir 
Wilham's sword breaks, and he 
yields. Sir Lybius makes him 
swear to go and present himself 
to Arthur, as the first-fruits of 
his valour. The conquered knight 
sets out for Arthur's court, is met 
by three knights, his kinsmen, 
who, informed of his disgrace, vow 
revenge, and pursue the conqueror. 
The next day they overtake him. 
The eldest of the three attacks 
Sir Eybius, but is overthrown to 
the ground.. The two other 
brothers assault him. Sir Eybius 
is wounded, yet cuts off the second 
brother's arm ; the third jields. 
Sir Eybius sends them all to 
Arthur. In the third evening he 
is awakened by the dwarf, who 
has discovered a fire in the wood. 
Sir Eybius arms himself, and leaps 
on horseback. He finds two 
giants roasting a wild boar, who 
hold a fair lady as their captive. 
Sir Eybius runs one of them 
through with his spear, and is 
assaulted by the other. A fierce 
battle ensues. He cuts off the 
giant's arm, and at length his 
head. The rescued lady (an earl's 
daughter) teUs him her story, 
and leads him to her father's 
castle, who entertains him with 
a great feast, and presents him 
at parting with a suit of armour 
and a steed. He sends the giant's 
head to King Arthur. Sir Eybius, 
maid EUen, and the dwarf renew 
their journey. They see a castle 
crowned with human heads, and 
are informed it belongs to a 
knight called Sir Gefferen, who, 
in honour of his mistress, chal- 
lenges all comers. He that can 
produce a fairer lady is to be 
rewarded with a milk-white falcon, 
but if overcome to lose his head. 
Sir Eybius spends the night in 
the adjoining town, and in the 
morning goes to challenge the 



LYB 

falcon. The knights exchange 
their gloves. They agree to joust 
in the market-place. The lady 
and maid Ellen are placed aloft 
in chairs. The knights engage. 
Sir Gefferon is incurably hurt, 
and carried home on his shield. 
Sir Lybius sends the falcon to 
King Arthur and receives back 
a large present in florins. He 
stays forty days to be cured of 
his wounds, which he spends in 
feasting with the neighbouring 
lords. Sir Lybius proceeds for 
Sinadone. In a forest he meets 
a knight hunting, called Sir Otes 
de Lisle ; maid Ellen, charmed 
with a very beautiful dog, begs 
Sir Lybius to bestow him upon 
her. Sir Otes meets them, and 
claims his dog. He is refused. 
Being unarmed, he rides to his 
castle, and summons his followers. 
They go in quest of Sir Lybius. 
A battle ensues. He is still 
victorious, and forces Sir Otes to 
follow the other conquered knights 
to King Arthur. Sir Lybius comes 
to a fair city and castle by a 
riverside, beset round with pavilions 
or tents. He is informed that 
in the castle is a beautiful lady 
besieged by a giant named Maugys, 
who keeps the bridge, and will 
let none pass without doing him 
homage. This Lybius refuses, and 
a battle ensues. The battle lasts 
a whole summer's day. The giant 
is slain. The citizens come out in 
procession to meet their deliverer. 
The lady invites him into her 
castle and falls in love with him. 
He forgets the Princess of Sina- 
done, and stays with this bewitch- 
ing lady a twelvemonth. This 
fair sorceress intoxicates him with 
all kinds of sensual pleasure and 
detains him from the pursuit of 
honour. Maid EUen by chance 
gets an opportunity of speaking 
to him, and upbraids him with 



228 LYB 

his vice and folly. He is filled 
with remorse, and escapes the 
same evening. At length he- 
arrives at the city and castle of 
Sinadone, and is given to under- 
stand that he must challenge the 
constable of the castle to single 
combat before he can be received 
as a guest. They joust ; the 
constable in worsted ; Sir Lybius 
is feasted in the castle ; he 
declares his intention of delivering 
their lady ; and inquires the 
particulars of her history. " Two 
necromancers have built a fine 
palace by sorcery, and there keep 
her enchanted, till she will sur- 
render her duchy to them, and 
yield to such base conditions as 
they would impose." Early on 
the morrow Sir Lybius sets out 
for the enchanted palace. He 
ahghts in the court and enters 
the hall. He sits down at the 
high table. On a sudden all the 
lights are quenched. It thunders 
and lightens. The palace shakes ; 
the wall falls in pieces about his 
ears. He is dismayed and con- 
founded, but presently hears horses 
neigh, and is challenged to single 
combat by the sorcerers. He gets 
to his steed. A battle ensues, 
with various turns of fortune. He 
loses his weapon, but gets a sword 
from one of the necromancers, 
and wounds the other with it. 
The edge of the sword being 
secretly poisoned, the wound 
proves mortal. He goes up to 
the surviving sorcerer, who is 
carried away from him by en- 
chantment. At length he finds 
him, and cuts off his head. 
He returns to the palace to deliver 
the lady, but cannot find her ; as 
he is lamenting, a window opens, 
through which enters a horrible 
serpent with wings and a woman's 
face. It coils round his neck and 
kisses him, then is suddenly con- 



LYB 



verted into a very beautiful lady. 
She tells him she is the lady of 
Sinadone, and was so enchanted, 
tiU she might kiss Sir Gawain, or 
some one of his blood, that he 
has dissolved the charm, and that 
herself and her dominions may 
be his reward. The knight, whose 
descent is by this means dis- 
covered, joyfully accepts the ofEer, 



229 MAB 

makes her his bride, and then 
sets out with her for King Arthur's 
court. 

LYNGI, KING. {Vide " Volsungs.") 
Son of Hunding (q.v.). He slew 
in battle Sigmund (q.v.) and King 
Eylimi {q.v.). He was subse- 
quently slain by Sigurd {q.v.), son 
of Sigmund {q.v.). 



M 



MABINOGION, THE. A term em- 
ployed for a collection of Welsh 
semi-mythological tales (translated 
into English by Lady Charlotte 
Guest, and published in 1849). 
Of these eleven are taken from 
TJie Red Book of Hergest, a four- 
teenth-century MS. in the library 
of Jesus College, Oxford, whilst 
the Tale of Taliesin, included 
with them, is taken from a much 
later MS., and has no relation to 
the matter translated from the 
Red Book. In early Wales the 
aspirant to bardic honours was 
designated a mabinog, or graduate, 
and the traditional lore he had to 
master in order to assume full 
bardic rank was called Mabinogi, 
a well-defined corpus of mythical 
tales with a traditional com- 
mentary. Mahinogion is the plural 
of this term, and was employed 
by Lady Guest as a partly fanciful 
title for her collection of transla- 
tions. Strictly speaking, however, 
only one portion of the work is 
entitled to the name Mabinogi, 
that portion being the connected 
tales of Pwyll, Branwen, Manawyd- 
dan, and Math. The rest of the 
work includes the tales of King 
Arthur and Arthurian personages 
known as Rhondbwy's Dream, Pere- 
dur and Geraint, the Lady of the 
Fountain, and Kulhwch and I 



I, the Taliesin above men- 
tioned, and the tales of Llud and 
Llevelys and Maxen's Dream. The 
veritable Mabinogi are semi-mytho- 
logical in character, and are un- 
doubtedly survivals of Welsh 
Celtic myth. In them we recog- 
nize that process or "disease of 
mythology " at work by which 
divine beings deteriorate into demi- 
gods or " hero-gods," a process 
which bridges the gulf betwixt 
mythology and romance, and 
which has manufactured from 
deities more or less well authenti- 
cated the entire knightly circle 
of the Table Round and the 
chivalry of Camelot. Few, in- 
deed, of King Arthur's knights 
there are who can escape a 
mythological interpretation, and 
who may not be identified with one 
or other of the gods of the early 
Celts. (FWe "Arthurian Cycle," 
"Gawain," "Kai," "Lancelot," 
etc.) The fragment called Taliesin is 
probably founded upon the Uf e of a 
veritable Welsh bard of the sixth 
century, but the verse in which 
it is composed belongs to different 
periods, whilst the prose portion 
merely serves to give it a certain 
measure of coherence. The 
stories of Arthur betray the Celtic 
spirit so far as Kulwch and Oliven 
and the Dream of Rhonabwy are 



MAB 



230 



concerned, and these were prob- 
ably fixed in form about the 
twelfth century before Norman 
influences were at work on the 
Arthurian legend. In the Lady 
of the Fountain and Peredur we 
find that Norman influence con- 
siderably developed, but a measure 
of the indigenous Celtic spirit 
retained. Maxen's Dream and 
Llud and Llevelys t!1z,j be de- 
scribed as mythi-historic, in that 
they preserve what would seem 
to be a veritable substratum of 
history underneath a groundwork 
of myth. As literature they form 
a link between the Mahinogi and 
the later semi-Norman form of 
the Lady of the Fountain and 
Peredur. 

The Mabinogion appears to have 
been a collection of tales which 
provided the Welsh bards with 
a key to the mystic and obscure 
allusions so frequent in Welsh 
poetry. It is the remains of a 
literature framed by a literary 
caste for the purpose of preserving 
the mythic and heroic traditions 
of the race. Although the MS. 
dates from the fourteenth cen- 
tury, the tales as flxed in the 
shape we know them are of the 
period between the tenth and 
eleventh centuries. But this must 
not be taken as impljdng that 
they originate from that period, 
as elements in many of them hark 
back to the dim days of the 
beginnings of Aryan history. They 
are only examples of a class, 
waifs of an enormous body of 
mythic literature for ever lost to 
us, preserved by the bards of 
Wales under circumstances rather 
unfavourable to existence. If 
they stood alone, however, it 
would be exceedingly difficult, if 
not impossible, to arrive at their 
original meaning, which we are 
assisted in discovering by the aid 



MAB 

of the Bruts or chronicles, the 
Triads, and by the analogies 
of early Irish literature. The 
children of Don, for example, are 
undoubtedly to be equated with 
the Irish Tuatha de Danaan, and 
the former may, therefore, be 
regarded as divine beings, like 
their Irish congeners. Govannon, 
also, can be none other than the 
Irish smith Goibniu, the genitive 
of whose name is Goibnenn. Man- 
awyddan mab Llyr is evidently 
the Manannan mac Lir of Ireland, 
the Eord of the Otherworld, if 
he does not figure as such in the 
Mabinogi. A well-known theory 
is that which holds that the Welsh 
Celts borrowed these tales from 
the Goidelic or Gaehc population 
which they found in Wales on 
their entrance into that country. 
Another, put forward with equal 
authority, is that the Irish tales 
were borrowed by the Welsh in 
the ninth century. We find that 
Welsh hterature has no analogies 
with the Ulster cycle of Irish 
mythi-romance, which was most 
popular in Ireland at the period of 
the alleged borrowing, but with 
the cycle which recounts the 
deeds of the Tuatha de Danaan, 
which from the tenth century 
onwards had been frankly treated 
by the Irish as mythological 
matter. A far sounder theory is 
that which beheves both Welsh 
and Irish myths to have been 
drawn from a common source 
before these branches of the Celtic 
stock had become sundered and 
had achieved different character- 
istics and a different tongue. 
There are indeed superficial re- 
semblances which exhibit later 
borrowings, but these are easily 
discernible as such. The literary 
merit of these tales is great, 
remarkable for the era in which 
they were cast into shape. No 



MAB 



231 



French, German, or English prose 
of the same period can compare 
with them in this respect, and 
the glamour of phantasy which 
they present remains unequalled 
in the tales of any race or time. 

The various personages and 
divine beings alluded to in the 
Mabinogion will be found sepa- 
rately treated under their names, 
and the several tales included in 
it are fully dealt with under their 
titles. (Vide also the article on 
" Arthurian Cycle.") 

MABON, SIR. {Vide "Sir Ferum- 
bras.' ' ) An engineer in the service 
of the soudan. 

MAC CECHT (1). Grandson of the 
Dagda, Danaan King, ruhng with 
his two brothers, Mac Cuill and 
Mac Grene, over teland. He was 
slain in battle with the Milesians. 

MAC CECHT (2). A warrior of 
Conary's {q.v.) party at Derga's 
Hostel (q.v.). Conary being un- 
able to fight from great thirst, 
Mac Cecht went over to Ireland to 
seek water for him, which at last 
he found in lioch Gara, whereat 
he filled the king's golden cup. 
He returned to the hostel in 
time to slay Conary's two be- 
headers and to pour the water 
into the grateful mouth of the 
severed head^ 

MAC CUILL. In Irish romance, 
brother of Mac Cecht {q.v.). 

MAC GRENE. In Irish romance, 
brother of Mac Cecht (q.v.). 

MAC HA . In Irish romance , daughter 
of the Red Hugh, an Ulster 
prince, niece of Dithorba and 
Kimbay (q.v.), the latter of whom 
she weds. She appears again in 
the following tale : A wealthy 
Ulster farmer, Crundchu, found 
in his dun a beautiful woman. 



MAE 

who immediately took upon her- 
self the household duties, and, 
Crundchu being a widower, she 
became his wife. One day as 
her husband was preparing to 
go to a great fair of the Ultonians, 
she begged him to remain at home, 
but upon his persisting on going, 
she made him promise not to 
mention her in the assembly. 
But the king's two horses winning 
race after race, Crundchu forgot 
himself, and boasted of the swift- 
ness of his wife. He was seized, 
and messengers sent to bring his 
wife to prove his statement. As 
she was pregnant, she pleaded 
that she might not have to run, 
but all were bent on seeing her 
outrun the king's horses. She 
confirmed her husband's boast, 
gave birth to twins, and pro- 
nounced a curse of debility upon 
the Ultonians. 

MADOR, DE LA PORTE. Cousin of 
Sir Patrice (q.v.). He accused 
Queen Guinever of treason against 
his dead cousin. He challenged 
the knights to defend her cause. 
Blindly rushing into the fray, he 
is defeated by Sir Lancelot (q.v.), 
who defends the queen. Later, 
however, he is rewarded by hearing 
of the actual traitor, who escapes 
for safety. The queen willingly 
pardons her accuser . ( Vide ' ' Morte 
d'Arthur.") 

MAELDUN. In Irish romance, 
son of Ailill Edge-of -Battle (q.v.) 
He was brought up by the queen 
of the territory wherein stood 
the church to which his nun- 
mother belonged. Learning from 
his foster-mother the names of 
his kindred, he sought and was 
well received by them. One day 
as Maeldun with his foot planted 
on a. blackened flagstone in the 
graveyard of the ruined church 
of Doocloone was about to try 



MAE 



232 



his skill at flinging the stone, 
he was told that his father's body- 
lay burnt beneath. The murderers 
he learnt, were reavers from Leix 
that lay across the sea, so with the 
advice of a druid he set out with 
the destined number of seventeen 
men to seek this place. But 
his three foster-brothers impor- 
tuned him to take them also, for 
which disobedience of the oracular 
command all were punished. On 
an island he beheld his father's 
slayers, but was unable to reach 
them, being blown out to sea. In 
this phght the wai^derers met with 
many strange island adventures 
related in the Book of the Dun 
Cow. From the Island of the 
Slayers Maeldun heard a man 
boasting to another in an opposite 
island of having slain AilUl. With 
a rejoicing heart he was about to 
land, but was blown oceanward. 
On the Island of the Ants, they 
were attacked by gigantic insects. 
On the trees of the Island of the 
Great Birds sat monstrous birds, 
some of which the party killed 
and ate. An animal like a horse, 
with clawed feet Uke a hound's, 
lived on the Island of the Great 
Beast, and pelted Maeldun as he 
put off. Round the racecourse of 
the Island of the Giant Horses 
flew these animals, cheered on by 
a great multitude. They visited 
in turn the Island of the Stone 
Door, the Island of Apples, the 
Island of the Wondrous Beast, 
and the bleeding Island of the 
Bitiag Horses, huge beasts which 
tore each other's sides. So weary, 
hungry, and thirsty, they arrived 
at the Island of the Fiery Swine. 
It was covered with golden apple 
trees, the fruit falling down as 
these red swine-like animals kicked 
the stems. At night Maeldun 
and his comrades landed and 
gathered what they could of the 



MAE 

fruit, filling their boat and pro- 
viding for some time against 
hunger and thirst. Their apples 
had run out when they came to 
the Island of the Little Cat. 
This was a chalk tower reaching 
to the clouds, with great white 
houses on its ramparts. Entering 
the largest of them, the voyagers 
saw a Httle cat leaping from one 
to the other of four stone pillars 
standing in the middle of the 
house. On the walls were a row 
of brooches of gold and silver, a 
row of hoop-shaped neck-torques 
of the same metals and a row of 
great swords with gold and silver 
hilts. But as the youngest of the 
foster-brothers was carrying off 
one of the necklaces, the cat 
" leaped through him like a fiery 
arrow," leaving nothing of him 
but a heap of ashes which his 
comrades scattered on the sea- 
shore. Black sheep on the one 
and white on the other side of the 
brazen palisade fed in the Island 
of the Black and the White Sheep. 
They were shepherded by a mighty 
man who would sometimes put a 
black with the white sheep, when 
it would turn white, and vice, 
versa. Maeldun flung a peeled 
white wand on the side of a black 
sheep when the rod turned black, 
and the strangers in terror made 
ofi from the island, without land- 
ing there. A large island was 
that of the Giant Cattle, with a 
herd of huge swine feeding in it. 
One of the remaining foster- 
brothers landed on the Island of 
the Black Mourners and immedi- 
ately turned black, and com- 
menced to mourn. Two of the 
others, seeking to bring him off, 
shared the same fate. So 
other four covered their heads 
with cloths, and rescued these, 
but not the foster-brother. Se- 
parately kings, queens, warriors, 



MAE 

and maidens lived in the Island 
of the Four Fences of gold, silver, 
brass, and crystal. A cheese- 
like food, with the taste of what- 
ever each man wished it to be, 
was given the sailors as they landed 
and a drink that wrapped them 
in sleep for three days. When 
they awoke they found them- 
selves on the sea in their boat, 
with no trace of the island. When 
they reached the Island of the 
Glass Bridge, a woman, whom 
they had seen lift up a slab of 
glass and dip her pail into the 
water beneath, crossed the bridge 
and bade them welcome. She 
allotted them couches, one for 
the chief, one for each three of 
his men. Then she refreshed 
them with food and drink from 
her pail according to the desire 
of each man. Twice the men 
sought to woo her for Maeldun, 
and she promised to give them 
her answer the following morn- 
ing. But they awoke upon an 
islandless sea. Hearing a great 
noise of crying and speaking, 
they rowed for a day and a night 
and came, without landing, to the 
Island of the Shouting Birds, of 
plumage black, brown, and 
speckled. They arrived at the 
wooded Island of the Anchorite, 
to find it inhabited by many 
birds and one solitary man clothed 
only in his hair. Another an- 
chorite robed in his hair dwelt 
on the Island of the Miraculous 
Fountain. It was filled with gold 
and its soil was soft, white, and 
downy. Approaching the Island 
of the Smithy, they heard the 
noise of mighty blows upon an 
anvil, and the inhabitants talking 
about them as " little boys." So 
they hastily sailed away. Down 
through the misty waters they 
beheld the subaqueous island with 
roofed fortresses and surrounding 



233 MAE 

lands. Here from a tree a 
monstrous beast would stretch 
down its long neck to seize one 
of the cattle which grazed around 
the tree, guarded though it was 
by an armed warrior. Dreading 
that the weight of their boat 
must drag them beneath the 
mist, they speedily sailed over 
it and came to the cliff-hedged 
Island of the Prophecy. The in- 
habitants, probably believing that 
Maeldun was destined to harry 
their country and to drive them 
out, screamed : " It is they ! it is 
they ! " And when the strangers 
left, the people cried to each other : 
" They are gone away ! they are 
not ! " Rising from one side of 
the Island of the Spouting Water, 
and arching it like a rainbow, 
was a stream into which they 
thrust their spears, bringing down 
many more salmon than they 
could carry away. Great and 
wide was the four-square Island 
of the Silvern Column, losing its 
height in heaven and its depth 
in the sea. As they rowed through 
one of the meshes of a silver net 
that was flung from the summit 
into the sea, Diuran the Rhymer 
hacked away a piece of the net. 
He vowed- to offer it upon the 
high altar of Armagh should he 
ever again reach Ireland. Then 
they heard from the height a 
voice speaking in an unknown 
tongue. Nor could they land 
upon the Island of the Pedestal, 
for the only visible access to it 
was a locked door in its base. 
With great difficulty they escaped 
from the Island of the Women. 
There they sat down to eat with 
a maiden opposite each man and 
the queen opposite Maeldun, the 
marriage of the queen and her 
daughters with the chief and his 
men crowning the entertainment. 
Persuaded by the queen to remain 



MAE 



234 



and retain for ever their youth, 
they dwelt in that bhssful state 
for three months. But the men 
wearied and longed for Ireland. 
So Maeldun, though he loved his 
bride, not wishing that the men 
should depart without him, 
escaped with them one day as 
his wife, as was her daily wont, 
was judging her folk. But she 
had noticed them, and cast after 
them a clew of twine which her 
husband caught. He was unable 
to free himself, and the boat was 
puUed to land. For another three 
months they stayed on the island. 
This happened again and yet 
again. So as his men beUeved 
that Maeldun clung to the twine 
purposely, one of them caught at 
it the fourth time, but he too was 
unable to loose himself. Then 
Diuran smote off his hand, which 
feU with the twine into the sea. 
The queen wailed and shrieked, 
but her captives were free. After 
many similar adventures they 
followed the bird of the Island of 
the Falcon, inhabited only by 
sheep and deer, and came to the 
island of the slayer of Ailill. 
His dweUing they entered in 
peace and related their adventures 
to his household. Maeldun re- 
turned to his kindred, and Diuran 
offered his piece of silver upon 
the altar of Armagh. 

This tale is obviously of the 
same genre as those of the Odyssey, 
the voyages of St. Brandon, and the 
myth of Antilia, and is obviously 
intended to supply a tale of a 
" wonder-voyage," and may have 
been sophisticated by the Odyssey 
and similar Moorish and other 
Irish myths, or these latter may 
have developed from it. 

MAEV. In Irish romance. Queen 
of Connacht, wife of Ailill. She 
was a fierce strong woman, 



MAE 

governed by her own will, and 
took husband after husband, dis- 
missing them as she chose. She 
jBgures in the Celtic myth of the 
night attacking the sky, found in 
the Irish romance of " The Cattle 
Eaid of Quelgny," in the Book of 
Leinster and a MS. of the twelfth 
century. It is as follows : 
Taunted by AUill (q.v.) that her 
Red Bull, Finnbenach, with white 
front and horns, attached itself 
to his herd, Maev determined to 
possess herself of the Ulster Brown 
Bull of Quelgny. She first sought, 
but in vain, to obtain the buU by 
asking a loan of it for a year in 
return for a very inviting offer 
made to Dara its owner. Then 
she resolved to fight for it, so she 
summoned her hosts. These were 
the mighty men of Connaught, 
her alhes from Leinster, and the 
exiles from Ulster, including Conna 
son of Conor (q.v.) and Fergus 
mac Roy. Before the raid her 
spies brought word of the debility 
of the Ultonians {vide " Macha "), 
but from her druid diviner she 
foreheard of the slaughter of her 
hosts, and from the vision of the 
prophetess Fidelma of the Ulster 
hero Cuchulain. During the pro- 
longed combat, in which Cuchulain 
fought victoriously against the 
heroes of Maev and others, Maev 
got possession of the Brown Bull, 
but the slaughter continued, and 
in the end the Ultonians routed 
the host of Connaught, the Brown 
BuU slew Finnbennach, but him- 
seff fell dead from madness, and 
peace was made for seven years 
between Maev and the men of 
Ulster. But she determined to 
be revenged upon Cuchulain for 
her great loss and degradation ; 
so she sent the six one-birth 
children of her wizard Calatin 
(q.v.) against the warrior to weave 
around him despondency and 



MAG 



illusions. At last he was over- 
come. Maev was slain by Fbrbay 
iq.v.). 

MAGA. In Irish romance, daughter 
of Angus Og (q.v.). She was the 
grandmother of Conor mac Nessa 
(q.v.) by her husband Ross the 
Red, and of the cousins Cuchulain 
and Conall of the Victories by 
her second husband, Cathbad (q.v.), 

MAILLEFER. In Carlovingian ro- 
mance, the son of Renouart {q.v.) 
and Alice, daughter of Louis le 
Debonair. His birth cost his 
mother her Ufe, and this so 
grieved his father that he survived 
her by seven years only, and lost 
his reason. Maillefer was " the 
strongest man that was born of 
mother." 

MAIMED KING. Mentioned in 
Arthurian romance as having been 
cured of his infirmity by the 
GraU spear {q.v.) which was en- 
trusted to Galahad, who subse- 
quently achieved the Holy Grail 
{q.v.). {Vide " Morte d' Arthur.") 

MALEDISANT, DAME. Wife of Sir 
La Gate Male-TaUe {q.v.). Pre- 
vious to her marriage to that 
adventurous knight, she accom- 
panied him on an errand of 
liberation, rebuking him merci- 
lessly the while. {Vide "Morte 
d'Arthur.") 

MALORY, SIR THOMAS. The author 
of the great EngUsh collection of 
Arthurian romance, the Morte 
d'Arthur, was perhaps of Welsh 
origin, but nothing definite is 
known concerning the place and 
date of his birth. He completed 
his Morte d'Arthur in 1469, and 
it was printed by Caxton in 1485, 
the original being followed by 
two editions by Wynkyn de Worde 
in 1498 and 1529 respectively. 
Before the middle of the seven- 



235 MAN 

teenth century four more editions 
appeared, after which the popu- 
larity of the work appears to have 
lapsed somewhat. With the re 
vived interest in Arthurian litera- 
ture which marked the later part 
of the nineteenth century the 
Morte d'Arthur was edited no less 
than six times, notably by Wright, 
Strachey, and Sommer, in the 
latter of which the Caxton original 
was faithfully and studiously re- 
produced. Malory's original 
manuscript has never been dis- 
covered. The entire subject of 
the Morte d'Arthur, together with a 
summary of its contents, is treated 
in the article under that title. 

See Professor Rhys's introduc- 
tion to the Everyman edition of 
the Morte d'Arthur, and Dr. 
Sommer's supplement to the 
second volume of his edition of 
the same work, and Bale's II- 
lustrium Maioris Britannim Scrip- 
torum . . . Summarium, fol. 208 
verso. 

MANAAL. One of the Keepers of 
the Grail. 

MANANAN. Son of the Irish sea- 
god Lir, magician and owner of 
strange possessions. His magical 
Boat " Ocean-sweeper " steered 
by the wishes of its occupant, his 
horse, Aonbarr, able td travel upon 
sea and land, and his sword, 
Fragarach, a match for any mail, 
were brought by Lugh {q.v.) from 
the " Land of the Living." As 
lord of the sea he was the Irish 
Charon, and his colour-changing 
cloak would flap on gaily as he 
marched with heavy tread round 
the camp of the hostile force 
invading his darling Erin. He is 
comparable with the Cymric Mana- 
wyddan, and bears some resem- 
blance to the Hellenic Proteus. 

MANAS. {Vide " Eglamour of 
Artoys.") The giant brother to 



MAN 

Sir Maroke (q.v.), and companion 
to the Boar. He was slain by 
Eglamour {q.v.). 

MANAWYD. {Vide " Gododin.") He 
joined the confederation of the 
Cymric chiefs with Madog. He 
came adorned with a wreath, " his 
country's rod of power." He was 
slain in battle. 

MANAWYDDAN, SON OF LLYR, A 

Welsh romance included by Lady 
Charlotte Guest in the collection 
known as The Mabinogion, and 
found in the fourteenth-century 
Eed Book of Hergest. It is a direct 
continuation of the tale of Bran- 
wen {q.v.). After interring the 
head of Bran, Manawyddan com- 
plains to Pryderi that he is now 
landless. Pryderi, to comfort him, 
gives him his mother, Rhiarmon, 
to wife and a part of his territory 
of Dyfed. Dwelhng happily to- 
gether, they are startled one night 
by a clap of thunder, and observe 
that the fertile country around 
them has been turned iuto a 
barren waste by a thunderbolt. 
Famine overtakes them, and they 
are forced to betake themselves 
to Loegri to support themselves 
by making sad(Ues, shields, and 
shoes. Several times are they 
driven away because of the maUce 
of the other makers of these things. 
Returning to their own country, 
they live for a month upon game, 
and one day their hounds follow 
a boar into a strange castle. 
Unheeding the warning of Mana- 
wyddan, Pryderi follows them. 
He espies a fountain to which is 
chained a golden goblet, which 
seizing, he finds that he cannot 
let go. Manawyddan returns to 
Rhiannon, who reproaches him for 
leaving Pryderi. She herself re- 
turns to the castle, and meets the 
same fate. A thunderclap is 
heard, and the castle and all inside 



236 MAN 

it disappears. This leaves Mana- 
wyddan with Kicva, Pryderi's 
wife. They go once more to 
Eoegri to be shoemakers, but once 
more have to leave it. Mana- 
wyddan sows some com, which, 
when ripe, is carried off by night. 
He discovers that an army of mice 
are the culprits, and, seizir^ one, 
swears to hang it on Gorsedde 
Arberth. While he is about to do 
so a clerk rides up and offers to 
purchase the mouse. A priest, 
who also asks for it, meets with a 
like refusal, but at last Mana- 
wyddan makes a bargain for the 
mouse's life with a bishop. He 
says that he will give him the 
mouse if he can restore Pryderi 
and Rhiannon to him. This is 
done, the mouse turning out to be 
the wife of the bishop, who is him- 
self Llwyd Kil Coed, a friend of 
Gwal fab Clud, and the enchant- 
ment of Dyfed, and it transpires 
that the seizure of Pryderi and 
Rhiannon were effected in revenge 
for the treatment of Gwawl by the 
father of Pryderi, as told in the 
tale of Pwyll {q.v.). 

MANDRICARDO. {Vide " Orlando 
Iimamorato " and " Orlando 
Furioso.") Son of Agrican, King of 
Tartary. This cruel prince com- 
manded that all unable to bear 
arms should be put to death. 
While contending for a shield 
with Rogero he was slain. 

MANES or MANESSE, REIDIGER 
DE. A Swiss scholar and antho- 
logist. He hved at the close of 
the fourteenth century, and ap- 
pears to have been an influential 
magistrate of the town of Zurich, 
and eventually to have become its 
burgomaster. Whilst acting in 
these capacities he won wide 
recognition as a scholar of Htera- 
ture, especially poetry, and in 
collaboration \vith his son he set 



MAN 



himself to collecting the best 
poems of their own time. The 
result of their labours in this 
direction is entitled simply, The 
Work of the Manesingers, and the 
manuscript is still extant in Paris. 

MANUEL GALOPIN. (Vide " Garin 
the Lorrainer.") Son of Count 
JoceUn, cousin of Garin and Bego. 
A worthless man, fond of wine and 
women. He preferred a life of 
pleasure to any other, but at 
Bego's request he went as mes- 
senger to his kinsmen and to the 
king and queen to ask assistance 
after Thibaut's attack on Bego. 
Bernard was so angry at the news 
reaching the king that he tried to 
kill Galopin, but the queen rescued 
him. 

MAON. ( Vide ".Labra the Mariner.") 

MAP or MAPES, WALTER. The most 
briUiant writer and Uterary anti- 
quarian of his day, was born some- 
where on the borders of Wales 
about 1143. He studied for the 
Church at the University of Paris, 
and later entered the service of 
Henry II. He presided at the 
Assizes of Gloucester as one of the 
Justices in Eyre, in 1173. He 
acted as chaplain to the king 
during the wars brought about by 
the rebeUion of his sons, repre- 
sented him at the court of Louis 
VII., attended the Council at the 
Lateran at Eome, in 1179, and 
gained promotion in the Church 
first as Canon of St. Paul's, then, 
as Precentor of Lincoln, being 
finally appointed Archdeacon of 
Oxford in 1196. He probably 
died about 1210. Most of his 
work is written in Latin. Apart 
from his interest in the Arthur 
legend, he is credited with The 
Poems of Golias, the De Nugis 
Cwialium, and a prose miscellany 
in five books called Distinctiones. 



237 MAR 

These abound in mordant and 
satiric criticism of the Churchmen 
of his time, and in vivacious de- 
scriptions of its manners and 
customs. Some critics formerly 
attributed to Map the invention 
and compilation of the entire 
corpus of Arthurian romance. 
What Map in reality accomphshed 
was the introduction, and perhaps 
the redaction, of manuscripts re- 
latively ancient to his own time. 
He was a sort of twelfth-century 
Walter Scott, an insatiable hunter 
among Ubraries and time-worn 
MSS., and an ardent collector of 
legend and folk-lore. He probably 
discovered the MS. of the Quete 
del St. Graal {q.v.) in the Abbey of 
Salisbury, and from it compiled 
his book of that name " for the 
love of his lord. King Henry," 
who had the story translated from 
Latin into French. It has been 
advanced by the late Mr. Alfred 
Nutt that Henry II. attempted to 
" utihze the Arthur legend for his 
own purpose in winning over his 
Celtic feudatories," and that his 
" discovery " of the tomb of 
Arthur at Glastonbury in 1191 
was " intended to give the coup de 
grace to the hopes of Arthur's 
return and victorious champion- 
ship of a Cymric revolt." Deter- 
mined attempts, too, he says, were 
made to gain for the Church in 
Britain " an origin well -nigh as 
illustrious as that of any Church, 
and for the land of Britain a 
special sanctity as the abiding 
place of the holiest of Christian 
relics." 

MAPYNE. ( Vide " Sir Ferumbras.") 
A Saracen employed by the soudan 
to steal his daughter's magical 
girdle. He was discovered by 
Roland and decapitated. 

MARCHTEN. (F*de "Gododin.") A 
Cymric warrior, slain in the Battle 



MAR 

of Cattreath. " He would 
slaughter with the blade, whilst 
his arms were full of furze." 

MARGA WSE. Sister of King Arthur 
by the mother's side, and wife of 
Lot, King of Lothian, also mother 
of Gawaine, Agravaine, Gaheris, 
and Gareth. She came on a visit 
of espionage to the court of 
Arthur, and he, unwitting that she 
was his sister, entered into a 
liaison with her, the fruit of which 
was Mordred (q.v.). 

MARHAUS, SIR. Brother-in-law to 
King Anguish, of Ireland, and 
knight of the Round Table. He 
was killed in battle with Sir 
Tristram {q.v.). (Vide " Morte 
d' Arthur.") 

MARIE DE FRANCE. An Anglo- 
Norman poetess, who wrote circa 
1150-1175. She produced a num- 
ber of lais or tales which she ex- 
pressly states were adopted or 
translated from Breton sources, 
the events in which are placed in 
the Arthurian era. The personnel 
of Arthur's court is, moreover, 
frequently introduced. For ex- 
ample, Lancelot is alluded to as 
beloved by Guinevere under the 
name of Launfal ; but his love for 
a fairy denizen of the Isle of 
Avalon prevents him from re- 
sponding to her passion. Gawain 
is also referred to, as is the love- 
story of Tristran in the Lai de 
Chevrefoil. These fragments are 
valuable because of the evi- 
dence they present of popular 
knowledge of the Arthurian cycle 
in Brittany, and critics of standing 
have not hesitated to accept them 
as the best of proof that the true 
cradle of the cycle is to be found 
in Brittany. Then the Grail legend 
is not alluded to. For subject- 
matter of lais, see " Guingamour," 
" Bisclavaret," "Sir Launfal," 



238 MAR 

" EUduc." See Warnke's edition of 
the lais, 1885, with storiological 
notes by R. Kohler ; Roquefort's 
edition, 2 vols., 1820, containing 
a version in modem French ; 
Marie de France, Seven Lais, 
translated by Edith Rickert, 1901 ; 
Jessie L. Weston {Three Lais), 
1900. 

MARIE LA VENISSIENNE. Men- 
tioned in the Grand St. Grail as an 
old woman who brought a cloth 
upon which the Saviour's likeness 
had painted itself when she wiped 
His face. The mere sight of it 
healed Vespasian. 

MARIGONDE. {Vide "Sir Ferum- 
bras.") Governess to Floripas. 
She refused to give her mistress 
any aid in reheving Roland and 
Ohvier, and was pushed by Flori- 
pas into the sea and drowned. 

MARK. King of Cornwall, and hus- 
band of Isolt or Isond {q.v.). He 
was a Ufelong enemy of Tristram 
{q.v.), according to the Morte 
d' Arthur ; but the romance of Sir 
Tristram {q.v.) makes him the 
model of long-suffering husbands 
towards his wife's lover. 

MARPHISA. (See "Orlando Inna- 
morato " and " Orlando Furioso.") 
A female warrior of dauntless 
courage. She kiUed nine cham- 
pions of the Amazons. She un- 
horsed Zerbino {q.v.), but was after- 
wards unhorsed by Bradamant 
{q.v.). She revenged three dam- 
sels whom Morganor had abused. 
She hanged Brunello for stealing 
her sword. 

MARPUS. One of the Keepers of the 
Grail, second in descent from 
CeUdoine, and an ancestor of 
Lancelot. 

MARQUIS WILLIAM. {Vide " Garin 
the Lorrainer.") A brother of 
Fromont, but a traitor. He would 



MAR 



239 



not give up Bego's murderers 
because they were kinsmen, and 
thereby caused great dispeace. 
He offered Pepin a large sum if he 
would not help the Eorrainers for 
a year, and let them fight it out. 
The king assented, much to the 
indignation of the queen. But 
she wrote and warned Garin, who 
laid an ambush for Marquis 
WiUiam. He might have escaped 
but for Garin and three friends, 
who attacked and killed him, 
treating him brutally as they said 
" in exchange for Bego of BerUn." 

MARSILE. The pagan King of Sara- 
gossa, the last heathen stronghold 
in Spain, who with his aUies 
succeeded in cutting off the rear- 
guard of the French army at 
Roncesvaux, which resulted in 
the death of Roland and the peers. 
On hearing of the defeat of the 
Saracens by the French in the 
battle which succeeded Ronces- 
vaux, he died of chagrin. 

MARSIRE. (F»(ie "Sir Otuel.") A 
Saracen king whom Charlemagne 
wished to become a Christian or 
pay him tribute. He bribed Gane- 
lon, who brought this message, to 
betray the French. He was slain 
by Roland in the forest of Ronces- 
vaux. 

MATH, SON OF MATHONWY. One of 

the tales of the MaUnogi, derived, 
from ancient Welsh sources. It 
tells how Math, Lord of Gwynedd, 
in Wales, could only rest with his 
feet in the lap of a virgin. The 
girl who performs this task was 
Goewin, the most beautiful maiden 
of her time, and Gilvaethwy, son 
of Don, confesses his love to her 
under difficulties, as Math over- 
hears every word he says. Gwydion 
promises his brother Gilvaethwy to 
raise South Wales so that Math 
may have to go to war and leave 



MAT 

Goewin behind. He departs on 
the ostensible errand of obtaining 
from Pryderi some novel animals 
which the latter had obtained 
from the underworld of Annwn. 
These animals are swine. Dis- 
guising themselves as bards, 
Gwydion and his friends are 
received at Pryderi's court, and 
exchange dogs and horses made 
by enchantment by Gwydion for 
the pigs of Pryderi. These en- 
chanted animals only keep their 
shapes for a short time, and 
Pryderi sends a punitive expedi- 
tion to Gwynedd. A great battle 
ensues, and the men of Gwynedd 
are victorious. Gwydion and 
Pryderi fight in single combat, and 
the latter is slain through Gwy- 
dion's magic arts. Math discovers 
the treachery of Gilvaethwy and 
Gwydion, takes Goewin to wife, 
and punishes the schemers 
severely. They are transformed 
into deer for a twelvemonth, for a 
like space into swine, for a third 
term into wolves, and in each of 
these states they have offspring, 
afterwards turned into human 
beings by Math. Math is now 
compelled to seek another virgin 
foot-holder, and Arianrhod, 
daughter of Don, is put forward 
for the post. Math, by dint of 
magic, discovers that she is no 
virgin, and startled, she files, 
giving birth to two sons, Dylan 
Eil Ton, who makes at once for the 
sea, and another, who is hidden 
and brought up by Gwydion, who 
takes him to Arianrhod's castle. 
His mother says that she alone 
will name him. Gwydion comes 
once more to her castle in a ship, 
and sends her a pair of shoes. 
They do not fit, and in wrath she 
proceeds to his vessel, where she 
beholds her son strike a bird. 
She emits the words, " With a 
sure hand the lion hit the bird," 



MAT 



and Gwydion at once declares that 
she has named her son Llew Llaw 
Gyffes, " Lion of the Sure Hand." 
The mother now says that the boy 
will never be given arms except 
by her. Gwydion causes an en- 
chanted hostile fleet to appear, 
and, in fear, Arianrhod armp 
Llew. Incensed at the disappear- 
ance of the fleet, Arianrhod de- 
clares that Llew shall never have 
a wife save of her bestowing. 
Math and Gwydion make a bride 
out of flowers, and she is called 
Blodeuwedd. She intrigues with 
Gronw Pefr, Lord of Penllyn, who 
instigates her to discover from 
Llew the only way in which he 
can be killed. She discovers that 
only a javehn worked upon for a 
year's time and made during 
masses on a Sunday, can kill him, 
and then he must be caught 
standing by a bath on a river-bank, 
with one foot on the back of a 
buck, and the other in the side of 
the bath. Gronw prepares the 
javelin, and, when it is ready, 
Blodeuwedd persuades her hus- 
band to show her exactly in what 
manner the fatal blow would have 
to be dealt. Gronw, from a place 
of concealment, oasts the spear at 
the proper moment, and Llew 
flies away in the shape of a bird. 
Gronw then takes his place. 
Gwydion sets out to seek for Llew. 
He discovers him in the shape of 
an eagle, and transforms him back 
to his old hkeness. Llew resolves 
upon vengeance on his wife and 
her lover. She flies before him 
with her women, who are all 
drowned in Llyn Morwynion, and 
she is turned into an owl by 
Gwydion. Gronw is doomed to 
receive a blow in the same manner 
as did Llew. He interposes a flat 
stone between his body and the 
javelin, which nevertheless pierces 
the obstruction. Gronw is killed, 



240 MEL 

and Llew finally reigns as Lord in 
Gwynedd. Math is the greatest 
of all the mythological characters 
to be found in the Mabinogi. Pro- 
fessor Rhys refers to him as the 
Celtic Zeus. We have in this tale 
a sun-myth, in which Llew repre- 
sents the sun-hero, bom in strange 
circumstances, obscured for a space 
by Gronw, the darkness, but finally 
victorious. (See Alfred Nutt's 
edition of The Mdbinogion.) 

MATHOLWCH. King of Ireland, 
husband of Bran wen (q.v.), father 
of Gwen {q.v.). He figures in the 
Welsh tale of Kulhwch and Olwen 
(q.v.). 

MATIERE DE FRANCE. (Vide 
' ' Charlemagne Cycle ." ) According 
to Jean Bodel {q.v.), there were 
three cycles of romance alone on 
the subjects of which a poet of his 
day might worthily sing — the 
Matiere de France (the Charle- 
magne cycle) ; the Mateire de 
Bretagne (the Arthurian cycle) ; 
and the story of Rome la Grant 
(the Geste of Alexander the 
Great {q.v.)). 

MELIAGANUS, SIR. Son of King 
Bagdemagus. {Vide " Morte 

d'Arthur.") 

MELIAGRANCE, SIR. In Arthurian 
romance, son of King Bagdemagus 
{q.v.). He allured Queen Guinever 
and slew many of her knights. 
Lancelot subsequently released 
her, not without being subjected 
to imprisonment. He was even- 
tually slain by Lancelot {q.v.). 
{Vide " Morte d'Arthur.") 

MELIANS. A companion of Galahad, 
who had begged to be allowed to 
serve him and whom he had 
knighted. Searching for the Grail, 
they separate at a cross road, 
Melians taking the left-hand path 
in spite of warning. He comes to 



MEL 



241 



MER 



a tent where hangs a golden 
crown, which he seizes. But 
strange knights appear who would 
have slain him had not Galahad 
come to the rescue and over- 
thrown his assailants. MeUans is 
taken to an abbey to be healed of 
his wound and learns that the two 
knights who almost overpowered 
him were Pride and Covetousness. 

MELIODAS. King of Liones, father 
of Sir Tristram, who was bom of 
his first wife EUzabeth, sister of 
King Mark of Cornwall {q.v.). His 
second wife was the daughter of 
King Howell of Brittany {q.v.). 
{Vide " Morte d' Arthur.") 

MELIOT, SIR, DE LOGRES. A knight 
in Arthurian romance, who slew 
Sir Gilbert the Bastard {q.v.). 
Afterwards he was subjected to the 
witchery of a sorceress. He was 
eventually released from the en- 
chantment by Sir Lancelot {q.v.). 
{Vide " Morte d' Arthur.") 

MELISENDRA. An old Spanish tale, 
the date of which is uncertain. 
MeHsendra hes in a tower at 
Sansuena. She looks towards 
Paris, looking and waiting for 
Lord Gayferos, for whom she has 
waited seven years, and has not 
seen or heard of in that time. A 
knight appears on the road, and 
she makes a sign to him, asking 
him to take a message to Gayferos. 
The knight is Gayferos {q.v.), and 
she leaps from the tower and rides 
away with him. 

MELITS (1), SIR, DE LILE. Son of 

the King of Denmark {q.v.), and 
knight-in-waiting upon Sir Gala- 
had {q.v.). He accompanied his 
master on his holy mission, but 
returned to the court of Arthur 
upon losing Galahad. Later, 
when Lancelot takes Benwick, he 
is made Earl of Tursank {q.v.). 
{Vide "Morte d'Arthur.") 



MELITS (2). {Vide "Dietrich of 
Berne.") King of the Huns, and 
father of Odilia {q.v.). 

MBLUSINA. The most famous of 
the fays of France. Having en- 
closed her father in a high moun- 
taia for offending her mother, she 
was condemned to become, every 
Saturday, a serpent from her 
waist downwards. When she 
married Raymond, Count of 
Lusignan, she made her husband 
vow never to visit her on a Satur- 
day ; but the jealousy of the 
count being excited, he hid himself 
on one of the forbidden days, and 
saw his wife's transformation. 
Melusina was now obUged to quit 
her mortal husband, and was 
destined to wander about as a 
spectre tiU the day of doom. It 
is said also that the count immured 
her in the dungeon of his castle. 

MERLIN. A celebrated enchanter, 
who appears in most of the tales 
and romances connected with the 
Arthurian cycle. In his Celtic 
and mythical aspect he is perhaps 
identical with the British Celtic 
sky-god Nudd, and Professor Rhys 
suggests that he was the deity 
worshipped at Stonehenge. In 
the Celtic or Welsh form of the 
Arthurian legend he appears as the 
archdruid or wise man from whom 
Arthur gladly accepts counsel, but 
in the Norman-French, and later 
versions, he is regarded as a power- 
ful necromancer or enchanter, the 
type of the mediseval magician. 
It was through his instrumentality 
that Uther Pendragon gained 
access to Igemia, wife of Gorlois, 
Duke of Cornwall, in the shape of 
her husband, and became the 
father of Arthur. Later he ex- 
plained the uses of the sword 
Excahbur to Arthur, and guided 
him through a portion of his 
reign. He conceived a fatal 



MER 



passion for the enchantress Viviana 
iq.v.), and followed her to the 
forest of BroceUande, in Brittany, 
where she charmed him into a 
magic sleep, from which he could 
never awake. 

MERLIN. This romance, written by 
Robert de Borron, and perhaps 
completed by other hands, de- 
scribes how Satan, chagrined at the 
victory of Christ over him, begets 
a son unlawfully upon a virgin, 
who is to possess the wisdom of a 
Socrates, but to preach anti- 
Christian doctrine. His name was 
MerUn, and it is related that at 
eighteen months old he saves his 
mother from the doom to be meted 
out to those guilty of unchastity. 
He is afterwards brought to King 
Vortigem, to whom he expound^ 
the mystery of an unfinished 
tower. Vortigem is driven from 
his throne by Pendragon, with 
whom Merhn stands in high esteem, 
as also with his successor Uther 
Pendragon. For the latter he 
builds the Round Table, leaving 
one place to be fiUed in the time of 
Uther's successor. He aids the 
king iu satisfying his passion upon 
Igeme, wife of the Duke of 
Cornwall, and he takes charge of 
Arthur, their son. When Arthur 
reaches adolescence, he achieves 
the adventure of the sword in the 
anvil, and is proclaimed King. 
" And I, Robert of Borron, writer 
of this book, may not speak longer 
of Arthur tiU I have told of Alain, 
son of Brons, and how the woes of 
Britain were caused ; and as the 
book tells so must I what man 
Alain was, and what life he led 
and of his seed and their Ufe. And 
when I have spoken of these 
things I will teU again of Arthur." 
However, Robert de Borron ap- 
pears to break off here and does 
not enlighten us as " to what man- 



242 MID 

ner of man Alain {q.v.) was," nor 
does the MS. refer to him at all 
except in the most perfunctory 
manner. 



MERSADAGE. (Vide "Sir Ferum- 
bras.") King of Barbary. One 
of Eaban's tributary kings. He 
helped Laban to assault the castle 
at Aigremor after the French 
knights had taken it. He was 
killed by Sir Guy of Burgundy. 

MESSBUACHALLA. (In Irish ro- 
mance.) (The cowherd's foster- 
child.) Only daughter of Etain Og 
(q.v.) and of Cormac {q.v.). About 
to be cast into a pit by her heirless 
father, the infant smiled at her ap- 
pointed executioners. Thus over- - 
come, they gave her to a cow-herd 
of Eterskel, King of Tara, to be 
brought up. Lest she might be dis- 
covered, the princess was kept in 
a house of wicker-work with but 
a roof-opening. This precaution 
failed, however, for one of Eter- 
skel's subjects cUmbed up the side 
of the prison and beheld therein the 
fairest maiden in Ireland. Thus 
informed, the king ordered a 
wall-opening to be made and the 
maiden brought forth, for he 
believed that she was the destined 
mother of the son promised him 
by the Druid. But before she 
left her strange home she was 
visited by a god from the Land of 
Youth, to whom she bore Conary. 

MIDIR THE PRODD. A son of the 
Irish god Dagda, husband of 
Fuamnach (q.v.) and of Etain 
(g.t/-.). He visited Etain in the 
shape of AihU, her mortal husband. 
King Eochy's brother. But he 
longed to be united to her again, 
so he appeared one day to Eochy, 
and invited him to a game of 
chess. Having intoxicated his 
opponent with success, he at last 
suggested that the stakes should 



MIL 



243 



be according to the victor's 
pleasure. He won the game, 
and asked to have Etain in his 
arms and to obtain a Mss from 
her. This was granted for a year 
and a day hence, when Mdir 
appeared, despite the hedge of 
armed men surrounding Eochy's 
castle, and disappeared through 
the roof, eloping with his former 
bride. For this theft the Fairy 
Mound of Bri-Leith, whither he 
had borne her, was destroyed by 
the incensed mortals, ^d on 
their part the people of the Land 
of Youth took their revenge upon 
Conary {q.v.) the great-grandson 
of Etain. 

MILE (1). {Vide "Bevis of Hamp- 
ton.") Son of Bevis, born and 
christened in a forest and brought 
up by a fisherman. He fought 
bravely for his father at the great 
battle in London. Married a 
daughter of Edgar and became 
King of England. 

MILE (2), SIR. (Vide "Bevis of 
Hampton.") Married Josyan at 
Cologne and was strangled by her 
on their wedding night. 

MILO. {Vide " Garin the Lor- 
rainer.") Duke of Blaives, in 
Gascony. He had two fair 
daughters, and when King Pepin 
asked him if he would give his 
daughters in marriage to two 
counts of his court, he said they 
were already in love with Garin 
and Bego. The king, surprised, 
said these were the very same 
counts he had spoken of. So 
Garin married Alice, and Bego 
Beatrice. Milo made them co- 
heiresses. Garin gave up his 
wife's share, and took Metz and 
his father's lands. Beatrice and 
Bego afterwards lived at Blaives. 

MILON, THE LAY OF. A romance 
written by Marie de France {q.v.). 



MIL 

Milon was a much-esteemed knight 
of South Wales. The fame of his 
prowess and courtesy came to the 
ears and struck the heart of the 
fair daughter of a lord of the same 
realm. The maiden therefore sent 
the knight the offer of her love, 
which he accepted, while he asked 
for a meeting. The lovers met 
often in the damsel's garden, until 
the maiden forgot her duty. In 
great distress and fear she sent to 
teU Milon of her predicament. He 
arranged that their babe when 
born should be sent to her sister 
in Northumberland. The infant 
should be nourished as his sister's 
chUd ; and his mother's ring was 
to be placed about his neck, and 
the story of his parents written in 
a letter. The babe was born and 
was secretly conveyed to North- 
umberland. Then Milon sought a 
land beyond the seas, and his lady- 
love was given in marriage to 
another baron. Sad was the 
knight when he heard of the news. 
But forthwith he hid a message in 
the feathers of his favourite swan, 
and commanded his servant to 
give it into the hands of the lady. 
She found the message and also 
read therein that the bird would 
return home if it were starved for 
three days. After a month she 
managed to procure secretly parch- 
ment and ink, and, denying the 
swan food during the allotted 
period, set it free. For twenty 
years did this swan bear secretly 
the messages of these lovers. Now 
the son grew to manhood, and 
left Northumberland for Brittany. 
Here he made friends with the 
rich on account of his prowess, 
friends with the poor out of his 
hberality, and friends with all by 
reason of his modesty. At last 
as the Knight Peerless, his fame 
reached Milon's ears. He, seeking 
to uphold the honour of the older 



MIN 



244 



loiights, set sail for Brittany, and 
in an Easter tournament at 
Mont St. Michael, jousted with his 
unknown son. He was unhorsed, 
but was courteously treated by 
the victor. Then his eye caught 
the ring upon the youth's hand, 
and he learned that he had at last 
found his son. Rejoicing, they 
feasted together that night, and 
set forth next morning for Wales. 
The Kjiight Peerless offered to 
slay his mother's husband; and 
thus give the lovers into each 
other's arms. But that he needed 
not to do. For on the way to 
Wales, the travellers met a mes- 
senger from the lady bearing the 
news of her husband's death. 
With joy, therefore, the lovers 
were wed, and lived in happiness 
until the end. 

MINNIE, PRINCESS. Daughter to 
King Ladmer (q.v.), and subse- 
quently wife of Dietwart (q.v.). 
The romance tells us of her narrow 
escape from the jaws of a dragon, 
from which she is saved by 
Dietwart, who overcame the 
monster. 

MOHADY. {Vide " Florice and 
Blanchfleur.") A noted Mollah, 
preceptor to Florice, son of Prince 
Fehx. He opposed the attachment 
of Florice for Blanchfleur, and his 
rehgious zeal and evil disposition 
influenced FeUx against Blanch- 
fleur. He conspired with Ajoub 
to accuse the innocent maiden of a 
plot to poison him. 

MONGAN, (Vide " Fothad.") 

MONIAGE GUILLAUME. (William's 
Monkship.) A romance of the 
William of Orange sub-cycle of 
the Charlemagne saga. (Vide 
' ' William of Orange. ' ' ) This poem 
is founded on the real facts of 
William's life, and exhibits with 
some humour the contrast between 



MON 

his knightly and monkish spirit. 
Its original is probably to be found 
in the Novalesian Chronicle {q.v.). 
It tells how Wilham is warned by 
an angel to embrace the life 
monastic, but only by dint of 
princely presents can he obtain 
leave from the monks of Aniane to 
wear their habit. The abbot asks 
if he can sing and read, and the 
hero quaintly rephes, " Yes, with- 
out looking at the book." They 
gown and tonsure him, and when 
the abbot requests him to love 
his brethren well he replies, " Tell 
them not to put me in a passion." 
He is regular in the performance 
of his monastic duties, but eats 
more than any two of the brethren, 
and, when tipsy, iU-treats them. 
They determine to send him to the 
sea-shore to purchase fish for the 
monastery, and in order to rid 
themselves of him they instigate 
a band of robbers to waylay him 
on his return in the wood of 
Beauclere. He is told ere he 
leaves the monastery that if he 
should be waylaid by robbers that 
he is not to attack them, but, on 
the contrary, to give everything 
up to them, even to his clothing. 
He is told, however, that he may 
fight if they attempt to wrest from 
him the very last article of his 
attire. He buys fish, and is way- 
laid by fifteen robbers. They 
strip Wilham of his attire and 
attempt to take his breeches from 
him, but he immediately falls upon 
them, and MUs seven with his bare 
hands. He then tears off the leg 
of a sumpter-horse, and proceeds 
to kill them all. Having slaugh- 
tered the entire band, he prays 
that the horse's leg may be re- 
stored, which request is miracu- 
lously granted, and, resuming his 
journey, he regains the monastery 
safe and sound, much to the con- 
sternation of the brotherhood. 



MON 

He is iD received, and slays several 
in his wrath ; but eventually he is 
forgiven, and by the advice of his 
guardian angel quits Aniane, and, 
after remaining for some time with 
his cousin, a hermit, seeks the 
desert of Gellone. Other texts 
extend the story still further, and 
tell of a conflict with a giant, an 
imprisonment of seven years 
among the Saracens at Palermo, 
and how William returns to suc- 
cour Louis, besieged in Paris by 
the Saracens. He returns to the 
wilderness, and builds a minster 
and a bridge over a torrent near at 
hand. But the devil undoes his 
work every day. After a month 
of fruitless labour, WUliam lies in 
wait for the father of evil, and, 
seizing him, casts him into the 
torrent, which ever after boiled up 
incessantly. He then completes the 
bridge, and dies shortly afterwards. 

MONIAGE RENOUART. (Eenouart's 
Monkhood.) A romance of the 
William of Orange sub-cycle of the 
Charlemagne saga. It recounts 
the adventures of the gigantic 
hero as a monk. {Vide "William 
of Orange," and " Renouart.") 
It bears a close resemblance to the 
Moniage Guillaume (q.v.). Re- 
nouart enters the Abbey of Bride 
or Brioude, and so torments the 
inmates that at last they purchase 
four leopards, which they starve 
and shut up Renouart with them. 
He Mils them, defeats the robbers 
of the neighbourhood, who are in 
league with the monks, repels an 
attack of Saracens, and fights his 
own sonMaillefer {q.v.),who is in the 
Saracen ranks, but who is eventu- 
ally baptized. At last he dies, 
and his soul is carried ofE by 
angels, his body being taken to 
Spain as a relic. 

MORANN. In Ultonian romance, 
a druid who prophesied the 



245 MOR 

future greatness of Setanta, later 
designated the Hound of CuUan, 
or Cuchulain {q.v.). 

MORD. {Vide "Burnt Njal.") A 
cunning fellow, who tracked the 
thief from Otkell's {q.v.) store of 
goods to Hallgerda {q.v.). He 
assisted in Gunnar's {q.v.) murder, 
and had a hand in the slaying of 
Hanskuld. He sought to take up 
the case for the murdered man's 
friends, and pleaded in Kari's {q.v.) 
case against the burners of Njal. 

MORDRAINS. Or " Slow-of-BeUef ." 
He is known in Arthurian legend 
as the re-baptized Evalach {q.v.), 
who could not beUeve in the 
Trinity or the Immaculate Con- 
ception. Mordrains is shown 
Christ's blood, along with Serra- 
quite and Nasciens. He ultimately 
believes, and orders his people to 
be baptized or leave his land. 

MORDRED. Son of Arthur by his 
own sister, the wife of Eot. He 
was slain in Cornwall in a great 
final battle by Arthur, whom he 
succeeded in seriously wounding 
ere he expired. The name pro- 
bably signifies " Biter," and he 
perhaps typifies the serpent, of 
whom Arthur was on several occa- 
sions prophetically warned to 
beware. {Vide " Morte d'Arthur.") 

MORGADODR, SIR. {Vide "Guy 
of Warwick.") Steward to the 
Emperor of Germany. He was 
very treacherous, and was killed 
by Sir Guy to avenge the death 
of his lion, which had been slain 
by Morgadour. 

MORGAN LE FAY. Sister of Arthur, 
and wife of King Urience of the 
Land of Gore. Arthur gave the 
scabbard of his sword Excalibur 
into her keeping, but, loving Sir 
Accolon, she presented it to him, 
making by enchantment a forged 



MOR 



scabbard for her brother. Arthur 
managed to recover the real sheath, 
but was once again deceived by 
her. She also figures as a sort of 
Queen of the Land of Faerie, and 
as such has passed into French and 
ItaUan legend. At the birth of 
Ogier the Dane (q.v.) she promised 
that she would finally take him to 
dwell with her in Avillion, where 
she took Arthur after his last 
battle. She usually presents her 
favourites with a ring, which pro- 
cures them forgetfulness, and re- 
tains them by her in much the 
same manner as does Venus in the 
legend of Tannhauser. Her myth 
is a parallel of that of Eos ' and 
Tithonos, and has probably been 
evolved from a sun and dawn 
myth. 

MORIATH. In Irish romance, 
daughter of Scoriath, the King of 
Feramore. {Vide " Labra the 
Mariner.") 

MORIEN. {Vide " Gododin.") A 
Cymric warrior. He made an 
attack on the Saxon camp, and 
was killed by a stone thrown from 
the wall of the fort. 

MORNA, CLAN. In Irish romance, 
one of the divisions of the Fianna 
{q.v.), whose Treasure Bag contain- 
ing magic weapons and precious 
jewels of Danaan date was kept by 
Fia of that clan. {Vide " Bascna, 
Clan.") 

MOROKE, SIR. A giant, slain by 
Sir Eglamour {q.v.). The bright- 
ness of the latter's sword was 
responsible for the blindness 
which preceded his defeat. 
(See "Sir Eglamour of Artoys.") 

MORRIGAN. In Irish romance, the 
Danaan Goddess of Death and 
Destruction. She persecuted Cu- 
chulain in many shapes for refusing 
her proffered love. At the close, 



246 MOR 

however, she became his friend, 
warned him before his last battle 
by breaking his chariot-pole, and 
settled on his shoulder as a crow 
when he was dead. She got 
entrance to Da Derga's Hostel. 
{Vide "Conary.") 



MORTE ARTHURE. A metrical 
romance the authorship of which 
is attributed to Huchown of the 
Awle Ryale {q.v.), a Scottish poet, 
who lived during the middle of the 
fourteenth century. His author- 
ship is, however, by no means 
indisputably proved. In its lines 
romance is treated as fact, and it 
tends towards chronicle-history 
rather than romantic narrative. 
The author employs as his basis 
the Historia Eegum Britannice of 
Geoffrey of Monmouth, and Laya- 
mon's Brut ; but the whole is so 
coloured with the spirit of French 
romance that it is impossible to 
believe that he did not make use 
of Gallic sources as well. The 
poem is divided into three parts : 
(1) that which covers the period 
up to Arthur's defeat of Lucius, 
King of Rome ; (2) that which 
ends with the ofl:er of the Pope to 
crown Arthur King of Rome ; and 
(3) the revolt of Mordred and 
Arthur's death. The first and 
third portions are manifestly based 
upon the chronicles ; but the 
second is unquestionably either 
borrowed wholesale from some 
Arthurian source not now extant, 
or else proceeded from the writer's 
own imagination. That the 
author was a man of rare imagina- 
tive abihty is seen from many inter- 
polations and original passages. 
The colour-scheme of his language, 
the rare choice of words, the 
writhing of the serpentine lines, 
are sufiicient to stamp him as a 
fourteenth - century Swinburne. 
Here, indeed, is a magic of words — 



MOR 



247 



the veritable wizardry of the 
gifted craftsman in letters who has 
also the wondrous gifts of elo- 
quence and music. Of fabrics, 
armour, robes — all the materiel of 
romantic poetry — ^he writes in 
phrase which ghtters as brightly 
as the gallant vesture he describes. 
His rdle is, however, that of a 
chronicler. For example, he does 
not transport Arthur to AviUion, 
but prosaically buries him at 
Glastonbury. We are led to 
suspect, therefore, that the bulk 
of his interpolations do not par- 
take of the nature of matiire de 
poesie, save through circumstances 
more or less fortuitous, as he had 
every wish to observe exactitude, 
and only pictured brave trans- 
lunary things as he imagined they 
might reaUy have existed — or, 
better still, mayhap he never 
realized that his pen was of gold. 
Malory paid rich tribute to his 
memory when he made the Morte 
Arthure the basis of the fifth book 
of his great work. The one slur on 
the work is the quite topical one 
of over-aUiteration, which in some 
instances is of such an exaggerated 
character as to render the exact 
meaning exceedingly obscure. 

MORTE D'ARTHUR. A collection of 
Arthurian tales compiled by Sir 
Thomas Malory {q.v.) in 1469. It 
was, however, not printed till 
1485, when it was published by 
Caxton. There followed two edi- 
tions by Wynkyn de Worde, in 
1498 and 1529, and by 1660 four 
more editions had appeared. The 
Morte d' Arthur was undoubtedly 
one of the favourite romantic 
books of the fifteenth and six- 
teenth centuries, and as a specimen 
of mediaeval Enghsh it has never 
been surpassed. The original 
manuscript has not been found. 
For the most part, Malory's 



MOR 

originals were certain French 
romances of the Arthurian cycle, 
all of which are traceable except 
that from which the seventh book 
was composed. As the Morte 
d' Arthur was the great EngUsh 
compendium of Arthurian lore, it 
has been thought proper to give an 
extended summary of its contents. 

Book I. Uther Pendragon, King 
of England, sends for the Duke of 
Cornwall, whose wife, Igraine, he 
loves. He assumes the duke's 
shape, and visits Igraine. The duke 
is kiUed in battle against the king, 
when he marries Igraine. Arthur 
is the fruit of their marriage. The 
child after its birth is reared by Sir 
Ector and his wife. Two years 
after Arthur's birth King Uther 
dies. Merlin, through his magic 
power, makes the dead Uther 
speak, commanding that Arthur 
his son may succeed to the throne. 

Some time afterwards, when 
many lords and gentlemen had 
assembled in London for the 
Christmas feast, there was placed 
in the great churchyard a huge 
stone, in the centre of which was 
placed a sword, with the inscrip- 
tion above it, " Who pulleth out 
this sword of the stone is rightwise 
king born of England." None 
could move the stone but Sir 
Arthur, who is then crowned 
King of England. A great war 
takes place, shortly after, between 
Arthur, King Bors, and King Ban 
alhed against eleven northern 
kings. The war is ended by the 
intercession of Merlin. Arthur 
then begot on Lionel's daughter 
of Saman a son named Borse. A 
battle is fought, then the kings, 
Bors and Ban, take leave of 
Arthur to return to their own 
country. MerUn prophesies the 
death of the eleven kings all in one 
day. Arthur afterwards departed 
unto CarUon, whither came King 



MOR 

Lot's wife, his sister, as messenger, 
but really as a spy. During her 
stay he begot on her Mordred, 
unwitting that she was of the 
same blood as himself. The follow- 
ing day he chases a " questing 
beast." Igraine, Arthur's mother, 
whom he has never seen, is sent 
for, that they both may know 
each other, and a feast is held. 
A messenger from the Roman 
Empire arrives demanding tribute 
of Arthur, who, refusing, challenges 
the emperor. War ensues, and 
the Emperor Nero is defeated. 
Arthur, in passing a lake, perceives 
in the centre the arm and hand of 
a lady holding a sword, which he 
receives from her on rowing out. 
Merlin alludes to her as the Lady 
of the Lake. Later he issues an 
edict for the destruction of all 
children bom on May-day, that 
Mordred may be amongst them. 
They are aU placed on a ship, and 
sent to sea. The ship is driven 
against a castle, and all are 
drowned, except Mordred, who is 
cast upon a rock, and nourished 
by a good man until he is fourteen. 
Book II. King Eience of North 
Wales wastes Arthur's lands, doing 
much damage. Later Rience is 
captured by a knight, Bahn, and 
his brother. Balin succeeds in 
drawing from the sheath a sword 
worn by a lady of mystery, a feat 
none other could perform. The 
sword proves one of great power, 
and with it Balin beheads the 
Lady of the Lake. He also later 
kills his assailant. Sir Lanceor. 
The twelve kings, as prophesied 
by Merlin, are all killed in battle 
against Arthur in one day. Merlin 
prophesies a great battle at Salis- 
bury, in which Mordred, Arthur's 
son, is against the king. Bahn 
kills the invisible Knight Garlon, 
who is guilty ot slaying two 
knights. After adventure in the 



248 MOR 

Grail Castle, Bahn is Mlled in 
combat against his brother Balan, 
who also dies. They are both 
unaware of each other's identity 
until just before they expire. 

Book III. King Arthur is married 
in the Church of St. Stephen's in 
Camelot to Guenever, daughter of 
Leodigrance. Tor, the son of 
King PeUinore, is made knight. 
King PeUinore, whilst resting over- 
night in a wood, overhears a plot 
to poison King Arthur. 

Book IV. Merlin becomes very 
fascinated with Nimue, lady of the 
court of King Arthur, with whom 
he goes overseas to visit King 
Ban of Benwik. He prophesies 
of the Knight Lancelot, son of 
King Ban. He (Merhn) returns 
with the maiden to Cornwall, 
where by dint of magic, she im- 
prisons him in a stone. Five 
kings now make war against 
Arthur, destroying cities and 
castles, and slaying his people. 
After which King Arthur and two 
knights slay the five kings, causing 
their armies to flee. On the spot 
where they are killed. King Arthur 
builds the Abbey of La Beale. A 
fight ensues between Arthur and 
Sir Accolon, who has obtained the 
magic scabbard of the sword 
Excahbur. Arthur loses much 
blood, and is almost beaten, but for 
the enchantment of the Lady of the 
Lake, who caused the wonderful 
sword Excahbur to fall from the 
hand of Sir Accolon into that of 
Arthur, who wounds his opponent, 
and discovers his relationship, and 
that his sister Morgana had given 
the scabbard to Accolon. Later, 
Sir Accolon dies. Queen Morgan 
le Fay again steals the scabbard 
from Arthur while he sleeps, and, 
on being pursued by him, she 
throws it into a lake. The Lady 
of the Lake saves Arthur from a 
mantle which should have burned 



MOR 

him. Three knights of King 
Arthur meet three maidens, each 
knight taking one, and they all 
make a compact to meet at the 
same spot twelve months after- 
wards, a promise which the three 
couples kept, after which they 
again separated, and came into the 
court of King Arthur. 

Book V. King Arthur, having 
been at peace for some time, is 
again compelled to fight in defence 
of the empire against the aggres- 
sions of Rome. Refusing to pay 
taxes to the Roman Emperor, 
Lucius, that monarch invades 
Arthur's possessions in Prance. 
After a successful march, Britain 
is threatened. Holding a Privy 
Council at York to select a regent, 
Arthur leaves Britain to defend 
his foreign possessions. The re- 
gents appointed are Sir Bawdwin 
of Britain and Sir Constantine 
of Cornwall. To the latter Arthur 
wills the sovereignty should he 
never return. While crossing the 
sea on his way to Barflete, in 
Flanders, Arthur dreams of a 
fight between a dragon and boar, 
the former animal being victorious. 
On arriving in Flanders, Arthur 
kills a giant who had murdered 
the Duchess of Brittany. Having 
completed his task, Arthur then 
despatched messengers to the 
Emperor Lucius, commanding him 
to quit the country. The Emperor 
refuses, and Arthur's messengers 
are assailed, which causes a general 
conflict, resulting in victory for 
Arthur. Another battle takes 
place on the next day, and though 
Arthur's army is inferior in num- 
bers, it completely annihilates the 
enemy. A final battle follows, in 
which Arthur kills the Roman 
Emperor Lucius, and the Sultan 
of Syria, the King of Egypt and 
of Ethiopia, are killed, with other 
seventeen kings. The Roman 



249 ^OK 

army then retreats in confusion, 
leaving one hundred thousand 
dead on the field. Arthur, with 
his army, then proceeds through 
Almaine, and so into Italy without 
much resistance, except at Urbino, 
where a battle is fought, after 
which Arthur enters Rome and is 
crowned Emperor. He and his 
knights return in triumph to 
England. 

Book VI. Sir Lancelot-du- 
Lake, noted for his gallantry, sets 
out in search of adventure, and, 
while sleeping in the shade, is 
made prisoner by the enchant- 
ment of four queens, and brought 
to the Castle Chariot. They then 
offer him their love. After refus- 
ing, Lancelot escapes by the aid 
of a damosel, whose father is called 
Bagdemagus. On the arrival of 
Sir Lancelot, the daughter of 
King Bagdemagus leads him into 
the abbey, and sends for her 
father. On his coming, Lancelot 
explains to him how he has been 
betrayed, and speaks of the obliga- 
tion he was under to his daughter, 
promising at the same time to 
assist the king who is at war with 
the King of NorthgaUis. Request- 
ing the assistance of three knights, 
he ambushes himself In a little 
wood hard by the place of tourna- 
ment. Seeing the King of North- 
gaUis encounter King Bagdemagus 
and his knights, Lancelot rushes 
on the men of Northgalhs, and does 
mighty execution, so that the 
party of Bagdemagus prevails. 
Departing from the king's castle 
to seek his brother. Sir Louis, who 
has strayed while he slept, he 
meets a damosel who tells him that 
a neighbouring knight. Sir Tur- 
quine, had imprisoned many 
knights of Arthur's court. She 
leads him to where Sir Turquine 
dwelt, and they encounter one 
another, Turquine being slain. 



MOR 

Lancelot frees Turquine's pri- 
soners, and is led by the damosel 
to the hold of a robber knight, 
whom he overthrows. Coming to 
the castle of Tantagil, he slays two 
giants, who guarded it, and dehvers 
their prisoners. Passing by a 
meadow where were pitched three 
pavihons, and dressed in the 
armour of Sir Kay, he jests with 
the knights, who Ue in their tents, 
and overthrows them, subse- 
quently overthrowing four knights 
of the Round Table. Following a 
hound into a castle, he finds 
therein a dead knight, and a lady 
who mourned him grievously. 
Returning to the forest, he meets 
with a damosel, who begs him to 
assist her brother, who is sore 
wounded, saying that unless he 
entered the Chapel Perilous, and 
there procured a sword and a 
bloody cloth, that the knight's 
wounds should never be healed. 
Lancelot, after dreadful adven- 
tures in the Chapel, procures the 
talismans, and cures the knight, 
whose name was Sir Mehot. Pass- 
ing by a castle, a lady begs him to 
get her hawk, which had got 
caught in a tree. Disarming him- 
self, he chmbs into the tree, when 
the lady's husband attacks him. 
Snatching a great bough, Lancelot 
kills the knight with it. Pursuing 
his way, he observes a knight 
chasing his wife with intent to 
slay her. The knight, feigning to 
forgive his lady, suddenly slays 
her treacherously ; whereupon 
Lancelot lays it upon him to 
carry the corpse of his lady with 
him to Rome to obtain absolu- 
tion. Returning to Arthur's court, 
Launcelot relates his adventures. 

Book VII. At the time of the 
feast of Pentecost, there came to 
the court of Arthur a young man, 
who requested the king's hospi- 
tahty for one year, after which two 



250 MOR 

other gifts would be asked of him. 
Arthur granted him his wish. He 
causes the displeasure of Sir Kay, 
who deems him of low blood, and 
who subsequently names him 
Beaumains. He is in reality Sir 
Gareth of Orkney. The year 
passes, during which we hear httle 
of him, except that Sir Kay causes 
him to live amongst the scullions. 
There comes a maiden to the 
court, who asks for the assistance 
of a knight to release her sister 
from the tyranny of the Red 
Knight. Beaumains steps for- 
ward, requesting that he may be 
appointed to the adventure, which 
is one of his boons, the other being 
that Arthur would make him 
knight to Sir Lancelot. The 
king having granted both requests, 
Beaumains sets out after the 
maiden, who reviles him on account 
of his low rank. Sir Kay sets out 
after him, jousts with Beaimiains, 
and is overthrown. Then Sir 
Lancelot, having put the young 
man's skUl to the test, invests him 
with the order of knighthood. 
Beaumains proceeds on his errand, 
and is continuously abused by 
the maiden, who little knows of 
his rank. Many thrilling tacidents 
do they experience ere the castle 
of the Red Knight is reached. 
Their first encounter after leaving 
Sir Lancelot is a fight with six 
thieves, who had imprisoned a 
knight. Beaumains assails them, 
and kills three, the others making 
good their escape. Proceeding on 
their way, Beaumains slays two 
knights who oppose his passage 
over a river. No sooner had they 
crossed the river, when Beaumains 
espies a banner, and a shield of 
black hanging from a tree. He is 
immediately assaUed by the owner, 
a knight of the Black Laundes. 
The fight ends in the death of the 
Black Knight, and Beaumains, 



MOR 



251 



possessing himself of his enemy's 
armour and horse, rides on till he 
meets the brother of the slain 
knight, who jousts with him. 
Subsequently yielding, the Green 
Knight offers to Beaumains thirty 
knights, who commands them to 
be in readiness to serve Arthur. 
Then again, on proceeding. Beau- 
mains fights the third brother — 
the Red Knight, who likewise 
yields, and likewise offers Beau- 
mains a number of knights. The 
maiden continues her abuse of 
Beaumains, who patiently suffers 
her, eventually winning her re- 
spect. In passing a meadow they 
meet with Sir Persent, who jousts 
with Beaumains, yielding to his 
superior skiU. Beaumains dis- 
closes his identity to Sir Persent 
and the maiden. Beaumains and 
the lady then depart, and when they 
were come to the castle in which 
her sister is imprisoned, a dwarf 
counsels them. After which Beau- 
mains challenges the Red Knight, 
who'wams Beaumains of the peril of 
his task, but he, paying little heed 
to the advice, assails the tyrant. 
The fight is of long duration. 
After some repose, the combat is 
resumed on foot, meanwhile the 
ladies encourage Beaumains, who 
speedily brings his enemy to earth. 
The Red Knight pleads for mercy, 
which is granted him on condition 
that the lady will be released, and 
that he will pay homage to Arthur. 
The lady. Dame Eiones, de- 
clines Sir Gareth's advances ; but 
no sooner had he departed than 
she regrets her action, whereupon 
she sends her brother off in search 
of Sir Gareth, who, being found, 
returns. He then makes love to 
the lady, which causes her sister 
Linet annoyance. During the 
night Sir Gareth is attacked by a 
mysterious knight, who is be- 
headed by him after a fierce 



MOR 

encounter. On his recovery, some 
days after, Sir Gareth is attacked 
in like manner by the same knight, 
who again is beheaded. Mean- 
while there arrives at the court of 
Arthur, Sir Gareth's mother, de- 
manding her son. The Mng, not 
knowing of his whereabouts, sends 
for Dame Liones, who at the same 
time announces a great joust, thus 
hoping by these means to attract 
Sir Gareth. The tourney, which is 
attended by the king, is one of 
great briUiance. Sir Gareth, dis- 
guised for each encounter that he 
might not be recognized, changes 
into different armour each time. 
His vaUant display throughout the 
tourney meets with such approval 
as to cause the king to inquire 
after his rank. No man knowing, 
Arthur is obUged to engage spies, 
who discover Sir Gareth's rank by 
the legend on his helmet. Sir 
Gareth, after the tourney, betakes 
himself to a castle for rest, where 
he encounters a duke, whom he 
slays. He furthermore slays the 
duke's knights who had attacked 
him. Departing, Sir Gareth fights 
with a knight, who had im- 
prisoned thirty widows in his 
castle. KiUing the knight, he 
releases the ladies, commanding 
them to go before King Arthur. 
Sir Gareth then, unknowingly, 
fights with his brother, and not 
until the intervention of Linet 
do they recognize each other. 
While they are seated, the king, 
his knights, and their ladies dis- 
cover them, and great rejoicing 
ensues. Then follows a meeting 
between Sir Gareth and Dame 
Liones. After which, amidst great 
rejoicing, they are married. 

Booh VIII. We now hear of 
Sir Tristram de Liones, whose 
mother died at his birth, his 
father, Kling Meliodas, for the 
second time, marrying the daughter 



MOR 



252 



of King Howell, of Brittany. 
She, jealous of Tristram, tries 
several times to poison him, 
eventually being discovered by 
his father, who would have slain 
her, but for the boy's pleading. 
Sir Tristram is then sent to France, 
to be educated. After a long 
sojourn in that country, he returns 
to England, when he goes to the 
assistance of King Mark, of Corn- 
wall, who is being assailed by a 
knight from King Anguish, of 
Ireland, who demands tribute. 
The fight is fierce and of long 
duration, ending in Sir Tristram 
wounding Sir Marhaus, who es- 
capes, and subsequently dies. Sir 
Tristram is also severely wounded, 
and, as he is not hkely to recover, 
by the advice of a wise woman, is 
sent to Ireland, where he is cured. 
Disguised as a harper, and under 
the name of Tramtris, he appears 
before King Anguish, who, Httle 
knowing of his connection with Sir 
Marhaus' death, put him under 
the care of his daughter. La Beale 
Isond, with whom he falls in love, 
but he soon reaUzes that he has 
a rival — Sir Palamides. Shortly 
after, a tourney is announced, and 
Tramtris is requested to joust, 
which he does, completely defeat- 
ing Palamides. Sir Tristram's 
stay is then cut short, for the 
queen, discovering him to be her 
late brother's slayer, succeeds in 
procuring his banishment. Sir 
Tristram, ere he departs from 
Ireland, promises Isond that he 
will remain faithful. Returning 
to Cornwall, to the court of King 
Mark, with whom he fights for the 
love of a lady, he succeeds in 
defeating the king. He then 
departs after the lady, whose hus- 
band assails him, and is eventually 
overcome. Sir Tristram subse- 
quently defeats three knights, who 
abduct the lady, after which she 



MOR 

returns to her husband. King 
Mark, anxious to rid himself of Sir 
Tristram, sends him to Ireland. 
A storm rising. Sir Tristram is 
compelled to land in England, 
when he hears of a charge of 
treason against King Anguish at 
Arthur's court. Sir Tristram 
offers help to Anguish, completely 
defeating his adversary. Sir Tris- 
tram and Anguish then return to 
Ireland for the purpose of bringing 
back Isond, whom King Mark 
desires for his wife, and soon after, 
he, with Isond, returns to Corn- 
wall, bringing the lady to King 
Mark, who subsequently marries 
her. 

Sir Palamides, envious of King 
Mark, succeeds in getting Isond 
into his castle, when Sir Tristram 
attacks him, badly wounding the 
abductor. The queen is then 
restored to her husband. Hardly 
had this been accomplished when 
a watch is set on Sir Tristram, who 
deeply loves the queen, and, on 
their meeting. Sir Tristram is 
caught by thirty knights, who 
carry him as prisoner to a chapel. 
Releasing himself from his cords, 
he slays ten of the knights, and 
escapes. Meanwhile Isond is 
carried to a lepei^'s hut. Imme- 
diately Sir Tristram hears of this, 
he hastens to release her, bringing 
her to a house in a forest, where, in 
his absence, she is discovered by 
King Mark, and is carried off. 
Isond having contracted leprosy. 
Sir Tristram departs for Brittany, 
in search of her sister. La Blanche, 
that she might have her assistance. 
While in Brittany, Sir Tristram 
meets with many adventures. 
Marrying Isond's sister. Sir Tris- 
tram assists King Howell in many 
wars, proving himself invincible. 
Meanwhile, a knight of Brittany 
goes over to King Arthur's court, 
relating the marriage of Sir 



MOR 



253 



Tristram, which causes surprise, 
and Tristram is much abused by 
the court. The knight returns to 
Brittany, and Tristram and his 
bride set sail for Britain. Later 
his wife returns to her native land. 
Book IX. Leaving Tristram for 
a space, we turn to the adventures 
of a young man who appeared at 
the court of King Arthur clad in 
an ill-fitting coat of cloth of gold. 
He is desirous of knighthood, and 
not wishing to divest himself of 
the coat until he is avenged of his 
father's death (to whom the coat 
belonged) he receives from Sir Kay 
the name La C6te-Male Taile — 
meaning " ill-fitting coat." He 
soon proves his bravery in slaying 
a Uon which had broken loose, and 
which, but for him, would have 
devoured the queen. King Arthur 
then knights him. He offers to 
assist a damsel, who has appeared 
at the court for help, that a quest 
after a dead knight might be ful- 
filled. The pair set out while 
La C6te is continuously abused by 
the lady, Maledisant. Meeting 
with ill luck in the many jousts 
which he has, he is eventually 
rewarded by success. Coming to 
a castle. Sir La C6te is assailed 
by a hundred knights. Dismount- 
ing he shows great bravery, and 
after slaying twelve of them he 
escapes by the aid of a lady. Sir 
Lancelot, hearing of Sir La C6te, 
foUows iiim, and offers him his 
friendship. Shortly after, the 
young Imight is assailed by six 
knights, and is taken prisoner. 
Sir Lancelot, once more in search 
of Sir La C6te, causes the Lord of 
the Castle to yield, releasing the 
prisoners. The tourney is con- 
tinued, and coming to a fortress 
Sir La C6te decides to enter, 
leaving Maledisant and Sir Lance- 
lot to watch. Having entered, the 
young knight after a brave de- 



MOR 

fence is overcome and taken 
prisoner. Sir Lancelot decides to 
release his comrade, and having 
caused the Lord of the Castle to 
yield, frees him. Returning to 
King Arthur's court. Sir La C6te 
becomes Lord of Pendragon Castle, 
and marries the maiden -Male- 
disant. 

Returning to Sir Tristram, we 
find La Beale Isond keenly dis- 
appointed at his marriage to her 
sister. Writing to Sir Tristram, 
she beseeches him to return with 
his bride to his court. Meanwhile 
Sir Tristram is in the forest when 
he is met by the Lady of the Lake, 
who requests him to rescue King 
Arthur from a false lady. This he 
accomphshes, but refuses to dis- 
close his identity to the king. 
He sails into Cornwall, and is 
welcomed by Isond. He discovers 
that Sir Kehydiers is in love with 
her. Thinking her a traitress. Sir 
Tristram puts Sir Kehydiers to 
fiight, and then in despair he de- 
parts into the forest. He becomes 
insane, and lives with the shep- 
herds, the while he kills the giant 
Tawless who has attacked a 
knight and his lady. Meanwhile 
at the court of King Mark it is 
rumoured that Sir Tristram is 
dead, and but for the king, Isond 
would have taken her life. King 
Mark, hearing of the madman 
kiUing the giant, has him brought 
to the castle. Not recognizing 
him as Sir Tristram, the king 
orders every care and nourishment 
to be given him, and soon Tristram 
recovers. Isond, desirous of behold- 
ing this strange man of whom she 
hears, goes with her hound to see 
him. Immediately the hound 
recognizes Sir Tristram as his old 
master, which causes the queen 
exceeding Joy. Subsequently King 
Mark banishes Sir Tristram from 
Cornwall. Landing in England Sir 



MOR 

Tristram with Sir Dinaden dis- 
covers a plot against Sir Launcelot, 
and succeeds in preventing it, 
slaying the culprits. Time passes 
on, and one day Sir Tristram falls 
asleep by a well, and when there 
is met by a damsel with letters 
from Isond. Upon reading them 
he promises to reply after the 
tournament of the maidens, which 
is due to take place. Entering the 
tourney in disguise. Sir Tristram 
meets with success, and after the 
first battle is over he wins the 
prize. The following day he goes 
over from King Arthur's side, to 
the King of NorthgaUis, that he 
might be revenged of Sir Palomides 
who is on Arthur's side. Having 
again achieved much success, and 
won renown, he hastens into the 
field to escape detection. 

On the third day of the tourney, 
Sir Tristram resumes the same 
position, and he succeeds in 
unhorsing Sir Palomides. Sir 
Tristram continues to do much 
execution, until he is assailed by 
Sir Lancelot, who wounds him 
seriously, causing him to withdraw 
from the field. But feeling im- 
patient, Sir Tristram returns, de- 
feating Sir Palomides. In doing 
so his identity is disclosed. No 
sooner had Sir Tristram retired 
from the field, than Sir Lancelot 
is awarded the prize. He refuses 
it, and yields it to Sir Tristram. 
Sir Lancelot with the king and 
other knights go in search of 
Tristram, but fail to locate his 
whereabouts. The searchers return 
to Arthur's court, and seal a com- 
pact that they will not rest until 
Sir Tristram is found. Meanwhile 
Sir Palomides riding in the forest 
has a fall and is conveyed to the 
house in which are also Sir Tristram 
and Sir Dinaden. Later the three 
knights are imprisoned by their 
host, who is told that one of his 



254 MOR 

guests killed two of his sons at the 
tourney. On signs of acute sick- 
ness, the three knights are re- 
leased. The three depart in 
different directions, and Sir Tris- 
tram in lodging at a castle over 
night is made Queen Morgan's 
prisoner. The following day, on 
promising to defend her banner, 
she presents him with a symboHc 
shield, and he is released. Sir 
Tristram then hastens to a touma- 
'ment, at which his shield is the 
centre of attraction. 

Book X. Doing much execution, 
Tristram jousts with King Arthur, 
whom he severely wounds. He 
then departs into the forest, meet- 
ing with Palomides, whom he 
secures from ten knights. Sir 
Tristram and Palomides in depart- 
ing from each other arrange to 
joust at a later date, which they 
do, without either being successful, 
consequently they become friends. 
Having continued on his journey 
Tristram jousts unknowing with 
Sir Lancelot, on which occasion 
their identity is disclosed. Then 
Lancelot brings Tristram to the 
court of King Arthur, where he is 
made welcome. Meanwhile King 
Mark, hearing of Tristram's popu- 
larity, decides to seek him, that by 
treachery he might be slain. Meet- 
ing with many adventures on his 
way. King Mark proves himself 
none other than a coward and a 
murderer. He, having slain several 
just knights, is brought before 
Arthur, to whom he appeals for 
mercy. At about this time 
Arthur hears of his sister's (Queen 
Morgan le Pay's) cruelty towards 
his knights at her castle. He 
commands several knights to 
assail her, which they successfully 
do, and succeed in abolishing the 
wicked custom of the place. The 
king announces a joust at which 
tourney Sir Lamorak defeats many 



MOR 



Knights of the Round Table, 
causing Arthur to congratulate 
him, to the displeasure of Sir 
Gawaine and his followers. At 
the request of Tristram, King 
Mark, by Arthur's commands, 
promises to love Tristram, and 
take him into Cornwall. Mean- 
while Percival, the son of King 
Pellinore, appears at the court, 
desirous of knighthood. King 
Arthur having conferred the order 
on Percival, a maiden commands 
him to arise and follow her. 
Bringing him to the Castle Perilous, 
she makes him its overlord. 
Arthur hears of Sir Gaharis having 
slain his own mother, who is loved 
by Sir Lamorak. The king, feeling 
angered, banishes Sir Gaharis from 
the court, who pursues Sir Lamo- 
rak, intent on his slaughter. Sir 
Dinaden visits Sir Palomides bear- 
ing the news of Tristram's arrival 
in Cornwall. Meanwhile the king 
and his queen and Sir Lancelot 
receive letters from Tristram. In 
replying the king and Lancelot 
warn Tristram to beware of King 
Mark's treachery. King Mark also 
receives letters from the same 
source, and is much enraged at 
the contents, which betray his 
intentions towards Tristram. Re- 
plying, he rebukes Arthur with the 
reminder that he also can manage 
his household. Arthur and Lance- 
lot annoyed at Mark's letter, the 
latter entrusts Sir Dinaden to 
compose a lay on Mark, sending 
EUot the harper before him. En- 
raged at the harper's audacity, 
Mark demands an explanation. 
The harper in defence states that 
he is sent by Sir Dinaden, there- 
upon he is banished from the 
castle. Shortly afterwards King 
Mark and his lords are threatened, 
and but for Tristram, who slew 
the king's assailant. Sir EUas, 
they would have been lost. Mark, 



255 MOR 

in a fit of jealousy, murders Boudin 
his brother, whose wife Anghdes 
he put to flight with her young 
son, AMsander, who at his coming 
of age is knighted, when his mother 
charges him to avenge his father's 
death. Then Sir Alisander departs 
for London, that he might enter 
Arthur's service. Proceeding on 
his journey he meets with many 
adventures, faUing into the clutches 
of Morgan le Fay, who makes him 
prisoner. He however escapes by 
the aid of Alice la Beale Pilgrim, 
whom he marries, and by whom 
he has a son. Arriving at Arthur's 
court he is hailed with pleasure. 
Sir Galahalt, by the king's per- 
mission, announces a tournament, 
in which Sir Launcelot is con- 
spicuous by his prowess. The im- 
portant event, on the fourth day 
of the tourney, is the encounter 
between the King with the Hun- 
dred Knights, and those of the 
Round Table, ending in victory 
for the latter. Sir Palomides, 
causing much destruction amongst 
Arthur's court, is assailed by Sir 
Lamorak, who defeats him. The 
seventh day's tourney ends after 
a brilliant display in Lancelot 
carrying off the prize. 

Returning to King Mark and 
Tristram the former, desirous of 
Tristram's end, arranges a masked 
tourney. This fails in its purpose, 
since his nephew is too slalful. 
Then in despair Mark, feigning 
sympathy with his nephew, suc- 
ceeds in drugging him, and casting 
him into prison. The uncle is, 
however, made to reahze his 
brutal conduct by the revolt of 
his subjects. He then forges 
letters purporting to have come 
from the Pope, requesting Mark 
and his army to go unto Jerusalem, 
and subdue the Saracens. These 
he sends to the imprisoned Tris- 
tram, who refuses to serve his 



MOR 

uncle, and discovers their fraudu- 
lent manufacture. Sir Tristram is 
then released by Sir Percival, but 
soon after is again cast into prison 
through his love for La Beale 
Isond, who very soon releases her 
lover, and they both take ship for 
England, where Sir Tristram jousts 
in a tourney with Sir Lancelot. 
Succeeding in winning favour, he 
discloses his identity to Arthur 
and Lancelot, who both rejoice 
exceedingly. 

While hunting one day Tristram 
hears of Mark's imprisonment by 
his own knights. Then follow 
many encounters. Meeting with 
Sir Dinaden he refuses to joust, 
but on pursuing their way Sir 
Palomides assaUs them. Tristram, 
knowing Sir Palomides' hate to- 
wards him, overthrows him. 
Palomides promises true fellowship 
for ever. On approaching the 
Castle Lonezep Tristram hears of 
the death of Sir Lamorak at the 
hands of Sir Mordred. Coming to 
Humber Bank, Tristram and Palo- 
mides espy a rich vessel, wherein 
they find the dead body of King 
Hermance, in whose hand is a 
letter. Tristram, reading it, is 
loath to voice its request which 
implores the finder to avenge the 
dead king on his enemies. For this 
achievement his castle and estate 
will be the reward. Seeing it im- 
possible in face of circumstances 
to comply with the letter, Tristram 
charges Sir Palomides with the 
mission of revenge. Sir Palomides 
then proceeds on his errand, and 
sailing down the Humber eventu- 
ally comes to a castle high up on 
the seashore, where he is made 
welcome. He is then told of the 
treachery of the late Hermance's 
sons, and how in slaying him the 
king commanded that a knight 
of the court of Arthur should 
avenge him and his people of his 



256 MOR 

sons' brutal deed. Palomides de- 
parts into the Red City, where he 
encounters his enemy. After a 
long and grim struggle, both sons 
are slain, and Palomides is 
acclaimed king. He, however, 
sets saU for Arthur's court, and 
meeting with Tristram, relates his 
adventure. The following day 
Tristram, Palomides, and other 
knights, accompanied by La Beale 
Isond and her siiite, set out for 
Lonezep. Having pitched their 
tents Palomides successfully jousts 
with Sir Gilihodin, Sir Gawaine, 
and others. 

A tourney is announced at which 
Arthur and his knights are well 
represented, and where Tristram 
defeats Arthur, and Palomides 
overthrows Lancelot, eventually 
winning the prize. On the second 
day's battle, Palomides crosses 
over to the opposing force, as he 
fears Tristram, whose ranks he 
had left. He, however, disguises 
himself afresh, and assails Tris- 
tram, who after much difSculty 
succeeds in unhorsing his opponent. 
The prize for the day goes to 
Tristram. Returning to their 
pavihons. La Beale Isond com- 
plains to Tristram of Sir Palomides' 
treachery towards him, but he 
takes little heed. The following 
day's battle brings to a head the 
quarrel between Tristram and 
Palomides. The tournament termi- 
nates, and all depart. Palomides, 
on his journey, encounters with a 
knight, whom he fights for the 
love of a lady, after which he is 
imprisoned for slaying another 
knight. Tied to a horse he is 
hastened to a castle. Fortunately 
Tristram hears of Palomides' 
phght, and succeeds in rescuing 
him. Sir Palomides' love for La 
Beale Isond is so great that, 
reahzing her indifference, he decides 
to end his life, and departing into 



MOR 



257 



a forest falls asleep and sings of 
his love. Meanwhile Tristram 
happens to ride past and hearing 
the sleeper, wakes him. Both 
enraged through jealousy, they 
agree to fight on a certain day. 
In the interval, however, Tristtam 
is hurt, which causes the post- 
ponement of the duel. Sir Palo- 
mides hearing of Tristram's acci- 
dent, departs. After Tristram is 
healed he pursues his opponent, 
but fails to locate him. 

Booh XI. Eetuming to Sir 
Lancelot du Lake who successfully 
battles with a dragon, and releases 
a lady from enchantment, he 
becomes the guest of King Pellis, 
cousin unto Joseph of Arimathie, 
on whose daughter, Elaine, he 
begot Galahad. King Arthur 
returned from the continent after 
a successful war against Claudius, 
gives a feast, to which comes 
Elaine, of whom Queen Guenever 
is jealous. Rebuking Lancelot 
because of his love towards Elaine, 
the queen causes him to flee from 
the castle into a forest, where he 
goes mad. The queen in her 
sorrow commands a search to be 
made for him. In the meantime 
Lancelot slays Sir Goodewin, who 
had kiUed one of his squires. 
Afterwards Sir Peroival jousts with 
Sir Ector, both being severely 
wounded. A maiden appears be- 
fore them, carrying the Holy 
Grail through which power they 
are healed. ' 

Book XII. Meanwhile Sir 
Lancelot wandering in the country 
comes one day to a pavihon and 
fights with a knight, its occupant, 
who is defeated. Realizing his 
victor to be Lancelot, the knight 
sends him to Sir Selivant who 
clothes him, and with him Lancelot 
remains. Seeing Selivant being 
assailed one day, Lancelot rushes 
forward and rescues him. Shortly 



MOR 

afterwards Lancelot leaves the 
castle, and still in his insane con- 
dition engages in a chase after a 
boar which attacks him, but 
eventually getting near the boar 
he slays it. Almost exhausted 
through loss of blood, a hermit 
succeeds in saving Lancelot's life. 
Escaping from the hermitage, he 
comes to the city of Cadin and 
running into the castle court, is 
captured as a madman, the in- 
mates little knowing him to be 
Sir Lancelot. Some time after- 
wards. King Pelhs's nephew has 
the madman brought into the 
castle, and clothing him in his 
old robes, sends Lancelot into the 
garden. He falls asleep and is 
discovered by the king and his 
daughter Elaine. Recognizing 
their captive to be Lancelot, they 
carry him into the castle, where 
by the aid of the Holy Grail, he is 
cured of his insanity. Lancelot 
feeling ashamed of his recent 
behaviour, changes his name,/ de- 
siring to be known as La Chevalier 
Mai Fet. He is presented with 
the Castle of Bliant, on the Joyous 
Isle, and with Elaine and their 
suite departs to dwell therein. 
Sir Percival coming to the castle 
jousts with Lancelot, whose name 
is discovered by Percival disclosing 
his own. Sir Lancelot then de- 
parts for Arthur's court, so that 
his son Galahad might receive his 
knighthood. His reception is of 
a most cordial nature. Counselled 
by La Beale Isond, Sir Tristram 
departs for the feast in honour 
of Lancelot's return. On his 
journey he meets with Sir Palo- 
mides, and remembering past 
differences successfully jousts with 
him, who being a Saracen is then 
christened at Carlisle. Pursuing 
their way the two knights arrive 
at Arthur's Court. 

Book XIII. Sir Galahad having 



MOR 

been installed in the Siege Perilous, 
is visited by Arthur and his 
knights, who take him down to 
the river in the centre of which 
is a stone containing a sword, 
which no other knight is able to 
dislodge but himself. Having 
secured the sword, Sir Galahad 
along with the king and his 
knights return to the court, where 
in fulfilment of a prophecy, there 
appears in their midst the vision 
of the Holy Grail. The king per- 
ceiving their departure on such a 
perilous expedition, and reahzing 
the loss to the court, experiences 
a feeUng of dismay. Sir Galahad 
having joined in the quest, comes 
to an abbey wherein was King 
Bagdemagus, who informs him 
of a white shield, bearing in the 
centre a red cross, which on finding 
Bagdemagus presumes to claim 
despite his disquahfication for 
such an honour. Girding around 
him the shield, he goes into the 
country, and being badly wounded, 
is brought back to the monastery, 
when the shield is, as prophesied, 
restored to its rightful claimant. 
Galahad wearing the shield, pro- 
ceeds on his quest, and meeting 
with a knight, he is told of the 
origin and adventures of the white 
shield, how the knight Joseph of 
Arimathie, who took our Lord 
from the Cross, and departing 
with a large party from Jerusalem, 
arrived at Sarras where King 
Evelake was engaged in war 
against the Saracens. He, by the 
advice of Joseph, pledged his faith 
in the Holy Trinity, and made a 
shield which bestowed great power 
upon its owner. Joseph, accom- 
panied by King Evelake, left for 
Britain. Soon after their arrival 
Joseph took ill, and bleeding from 
the nose, had the shield brought 
to him. In its centre he outUned 
a Holy Cross in his own blood. 



258 MOR 

declaring that the shield should 
be preserved until the last of his 
line was bom, who would be 
known as Galahad. Joseph then 
died, and having related the story, 
the White Knight takes his leave 
of Galahad. 

Resuming the journey with his 
squire. Sir Galahad is led by a 
monk to a tomb from which leapt 
a demoniac being, which would 
have attacked him but for his holy 
quest. The monk explains to 
Galahad that the creature betokens 
the sin of man for whose sake 
Christ died. Galahad then knights 
his squire, who is found to be 
Mehas de Lile, the son of the King 
of Denmark. Proceeding, Mehas 
is injured by a wicked knight, 
and taken to a priest, who heals 
him. Meanwhile Galahad success- 
fully jousts with Sir Lancelot, who 
does not recognize his opponent 
until after Galahad's departure. 
Coming into a forest in which is 
an old chapel, from the broken 
door of which shines the hght 
of many candles. Sir Lancelot 
falls asleep, dreaming that a 
wounded knight enters the church, 
where he is healed by the power 
of the Holy Grail, which appears 
as a vision. The knight recover- 
ing takes Lancelot's horse and 
sword, going on his way. Awaking, 
Lancelot realizes his loss, and the 
truth of the dream, and that his 
worldly sins are many, and that 
for such a Holy Mission he is all 
unfitted. He departs into a hermi- 
tage, and confesses his sins. 

Book XIV. Meanwhile Sir 
Percival in search of Sir Galahad 
comes to the house of his aunt, 
who informs him of his mother's 
death, and relates Merhn's pro- 
phecy concerning the search for 
the Holy Grail. Realizing that 
Galahad is the chosen one, to 
whom is allotted the discovery of 



MOB 



the Grail, Sir Percival decides to 
befriend him, and on his aunt's 
instruction rides on his way. 
Coming to a monastery where he 
hears mass, Percival perceives in 
a bed a wounded man, who is 
found to be King Evelake. He 
had landed in Britain with Joseph 
three hundred years ago, pursued 
the search of the Holy Grail, and 
having trespassed in the search too 
far, is stricken bhnd by the Lord, 
and not until Galahad had achieved 
the Grail would he die. Sir Percival 
departs, more eager in the search 
for Galahad than ever. He is 
assailed by twenty knights. Gala- 
had strangely enough comes to 
his assistance, and putting the 
assailants to flight, hastens away 
before Percival could thank him. 
Feehng dejected over Galahad's 
hasty departure, Percival wanders 
on, and losing his horse through 
jousting with a knight, he is con- 
fronted by a strange woman, who 
suppHes him with a fresh steed. 
The horse being bewitched leads 
him to a fiery and tempestuous 
sea, and shakes his rider off. He 
then plunges into the raging 
torrent. Percival's bewilderment is 
increased by the appearance of 
wild beasts, which approach him 
from all sides . Descending into the 
valley he witnesses an encounter 
between a serpent and a Hon. 
Seeing the hon in difficulty, 
Percival slays the serpent. During 
the night, there come to him in a 
dream two ladies each riding on 
a beast, foretelling a battle which 
he will fight. Arising he comes 
to a ship wherein is a holy man, 
who confirms the dream. The 
following day another ship appears 
in which is a lady who informs 
Percival of Sir Galahad, and his 
adventures. He falls in love with 
the lady, who mysteriously dis- 
appears in a thick volume of 



259 MOR 

smoke. Peeling enraged at his 
faithlessness he enters the ship of 
the holy man, which had re- 
appeared, and sails away. 

Book XV. Meanwhile Sir Lance- 
lot journeys from the hermitage. 
He sees therein a dead priest. He, 
as a token of good fortune, pro- 
cures for himself some hair, which 
is cut from the dead man's head. 
Falling asleep by a cross he dreams 
that seven kings and two knights 
appear before him, appealing to 
God for recompense for their 
earthly achievements, when there 
descends out of the clouds a spirit 
surrounded by angels chastising 
them for their vain love of earthly 
glory. Arising, Sir Lancelot comes 
to a hermit, and relates his vision. 
The hermit describes the seven 
kings as Lancelot's ancestors, and 
one of the knights as himseK who 
was of mighty force. The other 
knight is Galahad, begotten of 
Lancelot, who would achieve much. 
Lancelot submitting to his adviser's 
entreaties, becomes humbled, and 
as a holy man. The following 
morning Lancelot goes on his way, 
meeting with a company of 
strangely apparelled knights, who 
were split into two sections, and 
were fighting fiercely. Seeing the 
defeat of the weaker side, he joins 
them, but is eventually over- 
thrown. With a sad and heavy 
heart, he departs from their com- 
pany. Falling asleep under a 
cross there appears before him in 
a vision an old man, who rebukes 
him for his lack of faith and his 
evil will. Arising with an uneasy 
mind, he hearkens to the words of 
a prophet, who likens the tourney 
to a battle between the pure and 
the impure, and because Lancelot 
took the side of the impure knights, 
who were overcome, he is told 
that he yet lacks faith, and is still 
evil. Departing with renewed 



MOR 



260 



MOR 



spiritual strength, Lancelot suffers 
himself to go through a burning 
stream, and to be beaten by a 
black knight in the name of the 
Lord. 

Book XVI. We next turn to 
Sir Gawaine and Sir Ector, who 
both in search of the Holy Grail 
are despondent at their lack of 
success. They come to an old 
church, which they enter, and 
where they fall asleep. A vision 
appears befoi'e them signifying 
their unfittedness for such a sacred 
quest. Awaking, they are much 
afraid at an apparition which 
passes through the church, bearing 
a bright candle saying unto them, 
" Knights of evil faith, and poor 
beUef, thou shalt not come to 
the adventure of the Sangreal." 
Desiring an explanation to this 
mystery, they sorrowfully seek the 
aid of a hermit. On their way Sir 
Gawaine slays his brother, Sir 
Unwaine. They arrive at the 
hermitage, where the hermit 
explains the vision, and the appari- 
tion which he tells them signifies 
the Holy Ghost. After this good 
counsel they depart from the 
hermit. Sir Bors riding in the 
quest, meets with a hermit, who 
advises his confession, since he 
is on such a holy mission. This 
Sir Bors agrees to, and coming to 
a chapel he is made fit to pursue 
such a sacred purpose. Arrayed 
in a pure vestment, as a sign of 
his chastity, the hermit sets Bors 
on his way. Then follow many 
trials and temptations, which Bors 
with patience, and meekness, 
suffers, that he might achieve the 
quest. So strong is his faith, and 
so meek does he become during the 
mission, that he suffers his brother 
to treat him with much cruelty. 
During their quarrel there appears 
a bright flame which descends upon 
their shields utterly destroying 



them. Thus strengthened by this 
mystic occurrence, which Bors 
attributes to God, he continues his 
journey. A vision appearing before 
him one night directs him to the 
coast where on entering a ship he 
meets Sir Percival. 

Book XVII. We now return to 
Sir Galahad, who after rescuing 
Percival rides on to the Castle 
Carbonek, where a maiden com- 
mands him to board a ship. Doing 
as she bade him, Galahad meets 
with Sir Percival and Sir Bors. 
SaiUng away they are driven near 
to a rock against which was 
another ship. Entering it they 
discover by the side of a bed a 
richly jewelled sword. The maiden 
who had accompanied them, relates 
the history of the mystic sword, 
how that it had been coimected 
with Cain and Abel, Solomon, and 
David, and how it had wounded 
many who tried to bear it. Then 
Percival and Bors try to draw it 
from its scabbard, but they failing 
Galahad essays to do likewise. 
Reahzing the nature of the weapon 
on which is written, " Who that 
draweth me shall never fall of 
shame of his body, nor wounded 
to the death, but no man shall 
grip the handles but one, and he 
shall pass all others," Galahad is 
induced to wear the sword. 
Leaving the ship, they come to a 
chapel. The maiden who accom- 
panies them, and who is Percival's 
sister, sacrifices her Mf e by bleeding 
that a sick lady might, through 
her blood, be healed. Placing the 
lady's body on board a barge it is 
sent to the Holy City of Sarras 
where the Sangreal would be 
achieved. The three comrade 
knights then separate. Sir Lance- 
lot at this time is commanded in 
a vision to go into the sea, where 
he should find a ship into which 
he must enter. Arising, and 



MOR 



261 



MOR 



coming to the ship he finds therein 
Percival's sister. Taking from her 
dead hand, the writ which had 
been placed there by her mourners, 
he discovers how she had sacrificed 
her life. Remaining there for 
several months, Galahad arrives 
there causing Lancelot to rejoice. 
Galahad is commanded by a 
voice to leave his father that the 
quest might be fulfilled, and 
departs. Lancelot, who with the 
ship is driven far away, comes to 
a rock, on which stands a castle. 
Commanded in a vision to leave 
the ship, and go to the castle, he 
sets forth. Meeting with a dwarf 
he is sorely wounded, but van- 
quishes his enemy. A voice re- 
proves him for his lack of faith, 
and casting his armour away, he 
enters the Castle Carbonek. 
Coming to a chamber, Lancelot 
hears from within a beautiful 
singer, and thinking it to be the 
guardian of the Holy Grail, he 
tries to enter. Failing to unfasten 
the door, Lancelot sinks on to his 
knees and prays to God. 

Arising, the door opens, and 
Lancelot stands spellbound at the 
scene. The room is flooded with 
light, from the centre of which 
appears a silver table, holding the 
Holy Vessel, which is covered with 
a rich cloth. Around it he per- 
ceives angels bearing candles, and 
from their midst, and hovering 
over the sacred vessel appears a 
priest, on each side of whom are 
two men, while another he holds 
suspended in the air. Afraid lest 
the suspended object should fall, 
Lancelot, forgetting his surround- 
ings, rushes forward, but is cast 
to the ground by a hot, scorching 
breath which renders liim insen- 
sible. He is carried outside of 
the chamber, where he lies until 
the inmates of the castle discover 
him. Placed upon a bed, Lancelot 



lies unconscious for several days. 
Recovering from his comatose con- 
dition, and after resting a while, 
he takes his leave of his friend 
King PeUis. Meanwhile Sir Bora 
had arrived at the castle in search 
of Lancelot who is his brother. 
Lancelot returns to Arthur, and 
relates his adventures, and how 
he was permitted into the presence 
of the Holy Grail. 

Galahad, Percival, and Bors 
meet, and the trio enter the Castle 
Carbonek, where they behold the 
Holy Grail, and enter into holy 
communion. Commanded by a 
voice, which comes into their 
midst, they seat themselves at a 
table, and partaking of meat and 
drink from the holy vessel, enter 
into the spiritual atmosphere of 
the ceremony. Our Lord then 
appears and commands Galahad 
to carry the GraU forth from the 
castle into the Holy City of Sarras. 
Quitting the country with the 
sacred vessel, and taking the 
syinboUo sword, Galahad accom- 
panied by his two comrades arrives 
in the land of Babylon. Pro- 
ceeding to Sarras, they heal a 
deformed man. King Estorause 
hearing that enchanted knights 
have come to his land, casts them 
into prison, where during their 
confinement they are sustained by 
the Holy Grail. Soon the king 
dies, and they are released. Gala- 
had assuming the kingship, is 
shortly afterwards called away. 
ReaUzing that his time has come, 
Galahad bids farewell to his noble 
companions, and from their midst 
he ascends into heaven. Soon 
after Percival follows. Sir Bors 
in fulfilment of the prophecy 
returns to the realm of Logria 
to relate to Arthur and his court 
the adventure and mission of 
the Holy Grail, in the fulfilment 
of which Galahad and Percival 



MOR 



262 



had entered into the spiritual 
world. 

After the adventure of the Holy 
Grail, Guenever gives a banquet 
to the wanderers. Meanwhile she 
has driven Lancelot from the 
court for his apathy toward her. 
A tragic sequel to the banquet is 
the death of Sir Patriae, due to 
poisoning. Sir Penil, hating Sir 
Gawaine, had hoped to dispose of 
his enemy by injecting poison into 
apples, which he knew Gawaine 
to be fond of. By misfortune 
Patrise becomes the victim of his 
treachery. The queen is imme- 
diately suspected, and in a fit of 
madness the dead man's brother. 
Sir Harden, charges Guenever with 
treason. As there is no knight 
present who would defend her, 
she appeals to Arthur, who, re- 
gretting Lancelot's absence, ad- 
vises her to seek the aid of Sir 
Bors. Realizing the consequences 
should she fail to exonerate her- 
self, she gains the favour of Bors, 
who reports to Lancelot the pre- 
dicament of the queen. He is 
deprived of the adventure by 
Lancelot, who enters the field of 
combat in disguise . The challenger 
appears, and assailing the queen's 
defender is defeated. The queen 
is then released, and she discovers 
her saviour to be her old lover. 
Later, however, the mystery is 
cleared up by an enchantress who 
exposes Sir Penil as the murderer. 
Sir Harden is then appeased by the 
queen. Guenever riding in the 
country one day is captured by 
Sir HeUagrance Sending a page 
to Lancelot, the queen is released, 
and being pardoned for his treason, 
HeUagrance offers his hospitahty 
to the queen and her company. 
He on the following day accuses 
the queen of falsity toward her hus- 
band. Challenging his host to 
joust before Arthur, Lancelot is 



MOR 

entrapped in the castle, but is sub- 
sequently released by a lady, 
Arthur meanwhile is told of the 
scandal. Lancelot succeeds in 
slaying his treacherous enemy. 
Hardly had this scandal subsided, 
when through jealousy Sir Gawaine 
discloses to Arthur the famiharity 
of his queen toward Lancelot. 
The king gives the knight and his 
comrades leave to capture the 
lovers when together. Lancelot 
and the queen are trapped, 
but Lancelot succeeds in 
escaping by fighting his way 
through the spies. Arriving in the 
company of Sir Bors, he relates 
Ms misfortune, and reahzing the 
situation of the queen, he devises 
a scheme of rescue. Bors, his 
brother, offers his help along with 
other fcaights. A spy is sent to 
the court that Lancelot might be 
prepared for action. The king 
dooms his wife to be burnt at the 
stake. Preparations are made, 
and the spy reports to Lancelot. 
He accompanied by his followers 
attacks the assembled throng, 
inflicting great slaughter. Rushing 
to the stake, Lancelot frees 
Guenever, and with her he rides 
away to Joyous Gard. Arthur 
decides to assail Lancelot's castle. 
Lancelot prepares for a siege. 
Arthur marches forward. A state 
of war foUows, which, lasting for 
some time, is terminated by the 
intervention of the Pope through 
the Bishop of Rochester, who 
causes Lancelot to dehver Guenever 
up to Arthur. Forming a brilliant 
procession, he marches into Car- 
lisle, and presents Guenever to 
Arthur before his court. Lancelot 
is then assailed by Gawaine. 
Lancelot in despair collects his 
loyal followers together, and de- 
parts across the sea unto Benwick, 
dividing his new possessions 
amongst his knights. 



MOR 



Arthur hearing of this sets sail 
with a great army. Landing on 
the shores of Ben wick, and 
destroying everything which op- 
poses his progress, he arrives at 
the city of Benwick, where Lance- 
lot and his followers are lodged. 
A siege is proclaimed. Lancelot 
appeals to Arthur to return, but 
Gawaine prevailing over his uncle, 
prevents a reconciliation. Gawaine, 
boasting of his prowess, incites 
his enemy to joust, who defeating 
him on two occasions, causes 
Arthur and his host to depart for 
England. Gawaine dies during the 
journey back, and expresses a 
wish that he might receive Lance- 
lot's forgiveness. Meanwhile, 
during Arthur's absence, his son, 
Mordred, had assumed the king- 
ship and had attempted by false 
means to marry Guenever, who 
flees to the Tower of London. 
Arthur and his army are assailed 
by Mordred on landing at Dover. 
Hostilities between the rival 
armies commence, the first battle 
deciding against Mordred. 
Dreaming that he sees Gawaine, 
Arthur is advised not to meet in 
the combat with his son, until a 
month hence. Through the in- 
fluence of an adder, however, the 
treaty is never fulfilled. The rival 
armies meeting together, a terrible 
carnage ensues, Arthur driving 
his enemy into Cornwall. Still pur- 
suing Mordred, Arthur causes him 
to turn. Mordred inflicts the death- 
blow upon the king, who in turn 
slays his treacherous son. Arthur 
dies, and is interred at Glaston- 
bury. The queen, hearing of her 
husband's death, becomes a nun 
at Almesbury. Lancelot returning 
from Benwick hears of Arthur's 
and Mordred's death. After paying 
homage at his late chief's tomb, 
he visits Guenever who persuades 
him to become a monk. To this 



263 MUR 

he agrees, and going to Glaston- 
bury enters the monastery. Other 
noble knights follow his example. 
Several years having passed he is 
commanded by a vision to go into 
Almesbury, and return with 
Guenever's body, which is to be 
buried with her husband. Arising, 
he does as he is commanded, and 
returning places Guenever's body 
in the tomb of Arthur. 

Soon after Lancelot himself dies, 
and by his request is buried at 
Joyous Gard. The remaining 
knights each depart to their 
respective lands. Sir Constantine, 
Sir Cador's son, is chosen King of 
England. 

MORUNG, OfNifland. (Vide" Gnd- 
run Lay," under second portion, 
" Hagan and Hettel.") He it was 
who first told King Hettel of the 
beauty of Hilda, daughter of 
Hagan, and suggested that Hettel 
should seek to wed her. He was 
a member of the embassy which 
brought her to Hettel. He took 
part in the struggles described in 
" Gudrun " (q.v.), as the third 
division of the Gudrun Lay. 

MOYS, WOYSES. Moys attempts to 
sit down in Galahad's seat at the 
Round Table, and is swallowed up 
by the earth. It is supposed to 
be reserved for a very holy man — 
Sir Galahad — ^and would seem to 
typify the personal absence of 
Christ from the table. 

MURCIA, QUEEN OF. ( Vide " Florice 
and Blanchfleur.") Wife to Prince 
FeUx, ruler of Murcia, and mother 
of Florice. She befriended To- 
pase, and, following the birth of 
Blanchfleur, she fostered the child. 

MURDER OF THE MASTER OF 
SAINT lAGO. This mediaeval 
Spanish romance tells how Don 
Fadrique (Frederick), a brother 
of Don Pedro, King of Castille, 



MUB 



264 



called " The Cruel," was one of 
two natural sons of the King 
Alphonso and a lady of the power- 
ful family of Guzman. This wo- 
man was actually proclaimed his 
queen, and her sons were brought 
up in the Palace as princes, the 
real wife and mother of Pedro 
being treated with contempt. At 
the death of Bang Alphonso, Pedro 
became Mng, and Doima de Guz- 
man and her sons retired to various 
strongholds to protect themselves 
from his authority. Pedro was 
suddenly seized by iUness, and 
Donna de Guzman and her sons 
were suspected of intriguing for 
possession of the throne should 
he die. On his recovery, his 
mother the Queen Dowager so 
persuaded him, it is said, of the 
truth of this, that Donna de Guz- 
man was arrested and put to 
death. Don Fadrique, who had 
obtained the rank of the Order of 
Saint lago, fled to a fortress in 
the Coimbra, and his brother 
Henry to Arragon. Castille was 
continually in a state of rebeUion 
through these baleful influences 
and also in consequence of Pedro's 
own cruel behaviour. Don Fa- 
drique made friends with Pedro , and 
accepted an invitation to Seville 
to take part in a tournament. 
Pedro, although married to 
Blanche of Bourbon, deserted her 
for Maria de Padilla, a woman who 
exerted a wicked influence over 
him, and who is said to have in- 
stigated the cruel murder of Saint 
lago in the year 1358. 

There is a pecuharity in the 
construction of the ballad which 
describes this story. Fabrique at 
the commencement narrates his 
old story, and after he is executed 
another voice takes it up. Fa- 
drique receives a letter from King 
Pedro inviting him to join in a 
tournament at Seville. He takes 



MUR 

spearmen, horses and mules with 
him, the Journey being accom- 
pHshed within a week. But it 
has been disastrous to him, as he 
loses horses, mules, his fine dagger, 
and a faithful page is drowned in 
a stream. On his arrival at the 
gate of Seville a priest warns him 
from entering, and although he 
notices that no arrangements have 
been made for the tournament, 
and his followers are not allowed 
to enter the town with him, he 
walks up to Pedro who receives 
him coldly, calling him a traitor 
and ordering him to stand off, 
declaring that his time on earth 
was short, and that his lady 
required his head as a New Year's 
gift. He summons a yeoman to 
draw his sword, and the master's 
head is cut off and placed in a 
charger which is presented to 
Padilla as a gift from the king. 
Padilla having an intense hatred 
for Fadrique shows it in the manner 
she treats his head, for, after seizing 
it by the clotted hair, she heaps all 
kinds of scornful and extravagant 
imprecations upon it, and then 
flings it out of the window, urging 
her dog to lick the face. The 
mastiff tosses the head to and fro 
and picks it to the bone, a gaping 
crowd looking on. King Pedro, 
hearing the noise without, asks 
the cause of the disturbance. 
He is told that the master's head 
was torn and eaten by the mastiff, 
and an old woman who had 
nursed the two brothers upbraids 
him for his cruelty to his brother. 
He now rues the vow he had 
carried into effect, and disgusted 
with the vindictive Padilla he 
rushes up to her bower and 
carries her to a dark and deep 
dungeon, hurling all manner of 
curses upon her for being the 
cause of the dark and bloody 
deed. 



MUR 

MURDOUR, SIR. {Vide " Bevis of 
Hampton.") Brother of the Em- 
peror of Allemayne and lover of 
Sir Guy's wife. He slew Sir Guy, 
married his widow, and took his 
lands. Killed in battle by Sir Bevis. 

MURIAS. In Irish romance, one of 
the four great cities whence came 



265 NAS 

the Danaans {q.v.). From Murias 
came the cauldron of the Irish 
god, Dagda, a vessel that could 
feed a host without requiring to 
be refilled. 

MURNA OF THE WHITE NECK. In 

Irish romance wife of Cumhal and 
mother of Finn (q.v.). 



N 



NABON,SIR. Lord of the Isle. Men- 
tioned in Arthurian romance as 
a giant. He was subsequently 
slain by Sir Tristram {q.v.). His 
possessions then went to Sir Sag- 
wandes. (F*<Ze"Morted' Arthur.") 

NAGELRING. {Vide "Dietrich of 
Bern.") A sword presented to 
Dietrich by a dwarf. It proved 
its worthiness in his battles with 
giants. 

NAGLING. The sword which King 
Hygelak gave to Beowulf (q.v.), 
on his slaying the Mxie. {Vide 
" Hygelak," and " Breka.") 

NAISI. In Irish romance the son of 
Usna. {Vide " Beixdre.") 

NAPLES, KING OF. A character in 
The History of Eoswall and Lillian 
{q.v.), and father of Roswall. He 
sends his son to the King of 
Bealm as a punishment for re- 
leasing three lords whom he had 
imprisoned. Trusting his steward 
{q.v.) to accompany his disobedient 
son to the court of his aUy, he 
does not live to realize the disloyal 
nature of his wicked servant. 

NASCIENS (1). The Hermit King. He 
seems to have been the spiritual 
adviser to the " Quest of the Holy 
Grail." Many references are made 
to him in Arthurian lore. His 
first appearance would seem to 
show that he was baptized at the 



same time as King Evelach, 
and that he changed his original 
name, Seraphe, into that of Nas- 
ciens. Several miracles would 
also appear to be connected with 
his name, and for a fuller account 
concerning him we would refer to the 
various articles on the Grail legend. 
It is said that he was the first man 
to behold the Holy GraU, and 
was the ancestor of nine kings, the 
eighth generation of which was 
" as foul as a dog," owing to 
Nasciens' carnal sins in the days 
of his youth — the ninth of his line 
was Sir Galahad {q.v.) himself. In 
FumivaU's text we read of him 
advising " that no knight entering 
on the quest of the Holy Grail is 
to have with him his lady or 
damsel — ^the quest is no earthly 
one." In another part of the 
narrative Nasciens explains a 
dream to the heroes of the Quest. 
Gawain dreams he sees in a mea- 
dow one hundred and fifty bulls, 
all spotted, save three, one being 
dingy, the other two being pure 
white. Nasciens explains that 
those spotted are the ones stained 
by sin, the three unspotted ones 
are the Grail achievers, two 
white virgins — Galahad and Per- 
ceval — one dingy, having once 
siimed carnally, Bors. It is fur- 
ther stated in the narrative that 
where Nasciens is buried there Sir 
Galahad's shield should be kept. 



NAS 



266 



NEN 



NASCIENS (2). Son of Celidoine, 
and the daughter of King Label 
called after his grandfather of the 
same name. 

NASCIENS (3). Grandson of Celi- 
doine. 

NAYMES OF BAVARIA (1). A peer 
of CJharlemagne, celebrated for 
his wisdom as for his valour. In 
The Song of Roland he offers to be 
Charles's ambassador to Marsile, 
the paynim King of Saragossa, 
but the emperor denies his re- 
quest on the ground that he is a 
wise man, " and shall not go so 
far from him." In -Ferwmfiras he is 
alluded to as one of the twelve 
peers sent by Charlemagne to 
demand the liberation of his 
nephews. He was imprisoned at 
Aigremor, and having his beard 
set on fire by King Lukafere, he 
was so angry that he threw him on 
the hearth and let him bum to 
death. 

NECHTAN, SONS OF. Warriors of 
Connacht, who had slain more men 
of Ulster than were living when 
Cuchulain (q.v.) looked down 
upon their dun. With his two 
arms the great hero wrenched 
away the pillar that stood before 
the fortress of Nechtan, and round 
which was a collar bidding every 
warrior-man to hold it geis (or 
taboo), not to depart without 
challenging one of the sons to 
single combat. Both pillar and 
collar he flung into the river that 
iiowed hard by. Then one by 
one he slew the brothers, and 
fastened their heads to his chariot. 

NEMED. In Irish legend son of 
Agnoman. He was the second 
man after the Partholanians {vide 
" Partholan ") to settle in Ireland. 
Of his people who wandered upon 
the sea for a year and a half only 
himself with four men and four 



women were left to land in Ireland. 
He won four battles against the 
Fomorians {q.v.), but, with many 
of his people, died of a plague. 
The Fomorians then seized the 
rule of Ireland with a strong and 
cruel hand ; till the oppressed 
under the leadership of Fergus 
revolted. Finally only thirty of 
the Nemedians survived. These, 
according to ancient belief, left 
Ireland to die ; according to a 
later tradition, the Britaiu family 
of the Nemedians left its name to 
the Island of Great Britain, while 
two others returned to Ireland, 
at a later period, as the Firbolgs 
{q.v.), and the Danaans {q.v.). 

NEMGLAN. In Irish romance the 
king of the birds of the immortal 
father of Conary Mor {q.v.). When 
a lad, Conary, after playing with 
his foster-brothers on the Plain of 
Liffey, had returned towards Dub- 
lin, when before him he saw a flock 
of beautiful birds. Upon his aim- 
ing his catapult at them they 
turned into armed men, but Nem- 
glan, their chief, protected him 
and related his strange history 
and declared his geis or those 
actions of which he must beware. 

NENNIUS. {Vide " Historia Brito- 
num.") It is only on the autho- 
rity of the two extant prologues 
to the Historia Britonum that we 
ascribe its authorship to one, 
Nennius, of whom we know little 
more than the name. It is, how- 
ever, probable that he was a 
native of South Wales, who ampli- 
fied and redacted about the year 
826, a compilation of the seventh 
or eighth century, consisting of 
extracts from a Life of St. Ger- 
main, to which he added a short 
History of Britain, written in 
679, which he extended, but which 
had been added to before his 
time. He is described in one of 



NER 

the prologues to the work as a 
disciple of ELhadus or Elvoduzus, 
Bishop of North Wales, who died 
in 809, and the date of the original 
MS., of which the authorship is 
assigned to him, is given as 858 
A.D., but no copies are known 
earlier than the twelfth century. 
But the earliest MS. ascribes the 
work to one " Marcus the Anacho- 
rite, a bishop of the British 
nation," who wrote in 946 or 
947 A.D. It IB probable that 
Nennius was only one of the 
several editors of the work which 
bears his name. 

NEROVENS, SIR DE LILE. A knight 
of Sir Lancelot {q.v.). 

NESSA. In Irish romance, daughter 
of Echid Yellow-heel, wife of 
Fachtna {q.v.), mother of Conor 
(q.v.). 

NIAM. In Irish romance wife of 
Connal of the Victories (q.v.) ; 
she tended Cuchulain (q.v.) during 
the madness brought upon him 
by the children of the Avizard 
Calatin (q.v.), till one of these by 
magic set her wandering. 

NIBELUNGENLIED. Mbelungen- 

noth, or Lay of the Niblungs. A 
great German epic cycle belonging 
in its earUest actual shape to the 
beginning of the thirteenth cen- 
tury (1210). Its detached portions, 
however, are considered to have 
been composed between 1190 and 
1210, whilst a Latin original, 
founded on ballads, or folk songs, 
may have been compiled between 
960 and 980. The chief difficulty 
connected with the cycle lies in 
the discrepancies found between 
it and the legend embodied in 
the Edda. The motives of the 
various characters are essentially 
different, and their actions by no 
means similar in the older and 
later versions of the tale. In its 



267 NIB 

present shape it consists not of 
a mere collection of pieces put 
into sequence by a compiler, but 
of an actual fusion of previously 
existing elements. There is, in- 
deed, great difference of opinion 
as to whether it was to be con- 
sidered as one poem or as many, 
but the latter conclusion is almost 
certainly the correct one. The 
spirit of the poem is one of epic 
wrath. Destiny looms as terribly _ 
through its most auspicious pas- 
sages as in the CEdipua or the 
Antigone It is, indeed, the equal 
of the Iliad in tragic intensity and 
awfulness of denouement. But in 
unity, proportion and general ade- 
quacy it is sadly lacking. There 
is httle doubt that the Nibelungen- 
lied is a reproduction of the Lay 
of the Volsungs (q.v.). The few 
points of difference He in the 
change of names. Gunnar is Gun- 
thar, Sigurd is Sigfried, Gudrun 
is Kriemhild. Like Sigurd, Sig- 
fried has bathed his body in the 
dragon's blood, and only one 
spot between his shoulders is 
vulnerable. He is visibly the sun- 
hero, as is his prototype of the 
Volsung tale. The poem is written 
in quatrains, rhymed couplet and 
couplet, not alternately, but evi- 
dently intended for quatrains, as 
the verse frequently overlaps at 
the second line, but regularly stops 
at the fourth. The normal num- 
ber of syllables in a line is thir- 
teen. 

At Worms in Burgundy, the 
noble and beautiful maiden Kriem- 
hild hved with her mother Ute 
and her three brothers, Gunther, 
Gemot and Giselher, whose Court 
includes many heroes, most note- 
worthy being Hagen von Tronei 
and his brother Dankwart the 
Swift, Volker of Alzeye, skilled 
alike with sword and fiddle, Mar- 
grave Eckwart, Ortwin of Metz, 



NIB 

Rumolt, the " cook-master," and 
many others. One night Kriem- 
hild dreams of a falcon which she 
nurtures, till two eagles destroy 
it, which dream her mother inter- 
prets as foretelhng for her a noble 
husband, whom "may God pre- 
serve lest thou lose him too early " ; 
thus comes the first presentiment 
of the terrible woe that is to 
follow. 

Meanwhile Sigfrid of the Ne- 
therlands, the son of Sigemund 
and Sigehnde, a young hero famed 
for his valour and comeHness, has 
been growing to manhood, wan- 
dering through the world, doing 
wonderful and mighty deeds, win- 
ning the sword and treasure of 
the Nibelungs (q.v.), conquering 
their King Alberich and gaining 
possession of his " cape of dark- 
ness." Important among his ex- 
ploits was the slaying of a dragon 
in whose blood he bathed, coming 
forth invulnerable save at one 
spot, where, unknown to him, a 
linden-leaf had stuck between his 
shoulders so that the magic fluid 
did not protect him in that place. 
(For fuller details, vide " Sigfrid," 
and "Volsunga Saga.") Hearing 
of KJriemhild's beauty, Sigfrid sets 
out with his retinue to win her. 
Reaching Worms, heis received with 
honour, but not for a year does 
he see Kriemhild. He enters Gun- 
ther's service, and overcomes Euit- 
gart, King of Denmark, and Luit- 
ger. King of Saxony, who had 
declared war against Burgundy ; 
proving himself the hero of the 
fray, and his valour is recounted 
to Kriemhild, whose heart glows 
with love and admiration. At 
the festivities in celebration of the 
victory, Sigfrid meets Kriemhild 
for the first, time ; strong is their 
love for one another, and when 
Gunther seeks Sigfrid's aid in the 
wiiming of Brunhild of Iceland 



268 NIB 

(q.v.), Sigfrid makes it a condition 
that Gunther shall consent to his 
tmion with Kxiemhild. Queen 
Brunhild, exceedingly beautiful, 
and of great strength, has made 
it a condition that whoever would 
wed her must first beat her in 
three trials of prowess, losing his 
head as a penalty of failure. 
Sigfrid makes an expedition to the 
land of the Nibelungs, whose King 
Alberich is imder an oath of 
fealty to him, and returns with 
men and treasure. Taking Gun- 
ther's place and donning the 
" cloak of darkness " the hero 
wins the trials of strength on his 
friend's behalf, aU men, and Brun- 
hild herself, believing Gunther to 
have accomplished the feat. In 
Scandinavian Sagas, where this 
legend (originally a German one) 
is preserved in its pagan form — 
Brunhild was a Valkyr, or war- 
maiden of the great Teutonic 
God Wotan, who sent her to 
sleep with a prick of a magic 
thorn, and imprisoned her within 
a circle of flame, through which 
Sigfrid, the God of Nature, Spring- 
tide and the Sun, broke, delivering 
the captive and taking her as his 
wife, soon, however, departing from 
her. In the " Nibelungenhed " 
this mythic background is either 
presupposed or intentionally omit- 
ted, possibly through the influence 
of Christianity, but we are led to 
understand that Brunhild had a 
previous claim to Sigfrid's love, 
and when she comes to Worms, 
and is betrothed to Gunther, sad- 
ness and Jealousy wring her heart 
on seeing Sigfrid and Kriemhild 
also exchange the kiss. On the 
night of her marriage to Gunther, 
she wrestles with him, conquering 
him easily and binding him with 
her girdle, and next day he appeals 
to Sigfrid for aid. So that night 
Sigfrid, wearing his magic cape, 



NIB 



contends with the bride and over- 
comes her, she beUeving him to be 
Gunther. Sigfrid takes from her 
her girdle and ring, which he gives 
to KriemhUd. Sigfrid takes Kriem- 
hild back to his own land, where 
they Hve for many years, a son 
being bom to them, whom they 
name Gunther, while Brunhild 
also has a child named Sigfrid. 
Some years later, however, Brunhild 
still thinking of Sigfrid, persuades 
Gunther, that it is time Sigfrid 
and Kriemhild visited their Court. 
Gunther yields, though fearful of 
his deception being discovered, 
and sends messengers to Sigfrid, 
who accompanied by Kriemhild, 
Sigmund and his retinue, comes 
to Gunther's Court. Soon, how- 
ever, Brunhild and Kriemhild 
quarrel concerning the respective 
standing of their husbands, and 
each declares she wUI take pre- 
cedence of the other in procession 
to church. At the Minster door 
the cHmax is reached, when Kriem- 
hild taunts Brunhild with the fact 
that Sigfrid had won and deserted 
her, showing the girdle and ring 
as proof, though indeed Sigfrid had 
said no such thing to Kriemhild, 
merely stating that the ring and 
girdle had belonged to Bnmhild. 
Greatly distressed, Brunhild com- 
plains to her husband, and great 
is her wrath against Sigfrid for 
overcoming her on behalf of Gun- 
ther, and for betraying her to 
Kriemhild. Sigfrid is very angry 
with Kxiemhild, and, protesting 
his innocence, appeases Gunther. 
Hagen, however, finds Brunhild 
weeping because of the insult, and 
revenge is determined upon. Ort- 
win and Gemot join in the plot, 
and Gunther, weakly and hesita- 
tingly, agrees also, Giselher alone 
endeavouring to dissuade them. 
So a false alarm of war is raised, 
and an expedition arranged. 



269 NIB 

When Hagen bids farewell to 
Kriemhild, she recommends Sig- 
frid to his care. Suspecting no 
evil, she tells him of her husband's 
vulnerable spot. He induces her 
to mark the place, by sewing a 
silk cross on her husband's tunic. 
The conspirators next announce 
that peace had been made, and a 
hunting expedition is organised. 
The poem dwells at length on the 
hunt and Sigfrid's exploits. Rest- 
ing after the chase, Hagen speaks 
of a fountain near, and he and 
Sigfrid race to it, followed by 
Gunther. Sigfrid courteously 
waits until Gunther has drunk, 
then stoops down to the spring, 
when Hagen suddenly plunges 
his spear through Kriemhild's 
silken cross. Sigfrid strikes at 
Hagen, but faUs, mortally wounded. 
Dying, he reproaches his mur- 
derers, and commends Kriemhild 
to Gunther, if indeed she "can 
still be true to any one." Hagen, 
resenting the insult to Brunhild, 
places Sigfrid's body at Kriem- 
hild's door. Unspeakable is her 
grief when she finds her beloved 
husband dead — Sigmimd and Sig- 
frid's retainers rush to arms, but 
Kriemhild bids them bide their 
time tiU they have the murderers 
in their power. The Burgundians 
pretend that Sigfrid was slain by 
robbers, but as Hagen approaches 
the body the wounds begin to 
bleed, and Kriemhild knows him 
for her husband's slayer. Grief 
and revenge possess Kriemhild's 
soul, rendering her indifferent 
even to her son, so that she refuses 
to leave the land where her be- 
loved one is buried. Giselher and 
Sigmund and their men return 
to the Netherlands, Eckwart re- 
maining "to serve his lady till 
his death." 

For four years Kriemhild, speak- 
ing never a word to Gunther nor 



NIB 



270 



looking on Hagen, spends her 
time in a chamber near the 
Minster, where Sigfrid lies. To 
propitiate her, the Nibelimg trea- 
sure is sent for, but she employs 
it to give magnificent gifts, till 
Hagen, fearing that her purpose 
is to win hearts and power to 
wreak her revenge, seizes it, and 
with KriemhUd's brothers sinks 
it in the Rhine, all swearing never 
to divulge the secret of its where- 
abouts. It is important to note 
at this point that when the trea- 
sure of the Nibelungs comes into 
the land of the Burgundians they 
take the name of " Nibelungen " 
in the same way that Sigfrid was 
called Lord of the Nibelungs on 
possessing their treasure and ruhng 
them. For which reason this 
latter part of the poem was at 
the time of its composition called 
"Nibelungen Not," the whole now 
bearing the name "Nibelungen- 
lied." (For fuller particulars and 
remarks regarding the Nibelung's 
hoard, vide " Nibelung.") Many 
years after the murder of Sigfrid, 
Helche, wife of Etzel, King of the 
Huns (q.v.), having died, he wishes 
to marry again, and his faithful 
CouncUlor Margrave Rudiger of 
Bechlam suggests KriemhUd. 
Etzel despatches Rudiger to win 
her, and the Burgundians are all 
in favour of the marriage, save 
Hagen, who fears disaster should 
Kriemhild gain power. She her- 
self will not think of consenting, 
till Rudiger suggests that if she 
has the Huns to defend her none 
dare insult her ; immediately she 
makes Rudiger swear to avenge 
her wrongs, and he does so, httle 
dreaming of her dark schemes, 
and the woe his oath will bring 
to him and his. Etzel is a 
"heathen," but Rudiger assures 
Kriemhild that she is likely to 
convert him, so she goes to Hun- 



NIB 

gary with Rudiger, stopping at 
his castle Bechlam, where live 
his wife Gotehnd and his daughter 
DietUnde. The journey to Vienna 
is detailed ; crossing Bavaria they 
rest at Passua with Krimhild's 
uncle. Bishop Pilgrin, and proceed 
by Molk to the castle of Zeizen- 
mauer, where countless hordes 
under Etzel's sway join the pro- 
cession. At Tulna Etzel meets 
them, accompanied by 24 kings 
and princes and a great retinue, 
the most noteworthy being Diet- 
rich of Bern, King of the Goths 
(q.v.), who with his band of 
Wolfings is a guest at Etzel's 
court, Blodelin, Etzel's brother, 
Hawart the Bold, King of the 
Danes, and his retainer, Iring the 
True {q.v.), and Infrid, Landgrave 
of Thuringia (q.v.), (in history, 
Hermanfrid, son-in-law of Theo- 
deric the Great), and many others. 
At Vienna the wedding takes 
place with great magnificence, 
but Kriemhild's heart is sad, 
thinking of Sigfrid. Seven years 
pass and she bears Etzel a son, 
Ortheb. Six years later she deems 
the time ripe for vengeance, and 
causes her husband to send to 
invite her kindred and friends 
to visit his land. Etzel sends 
Werbel and Swemhn, his minstrels, 
to Gunther. He and his court 
decide to accept, but Hagen is 
" grim loath " and warns them 
that Kriemhild's heart is fixed on 
vengeance, but rather than allow 
them to go alone, or appear afraid, 
Hagen joins the expedition. HI 
omens beset them, and on coming 
to the Danube they find its waters 
swollen, and Hagen, foreboding 
evil, searches for a ferryman. 
Finding two " wise women " bath- 
ing, he seizes their garments and 
will not return them till they 
prophesy concerning the future. 
One, Hardebure, foretells good, but 



NIB 



271 



the other, Sigelint, warns him that 
none shall return from Hunland save 
the King's chaplain. The ferryman 
next refuses to take them across, 
and attacks Hagen, who kills 
him. Hagen tests the truth of 
the prophecy by flinging the 
chaplain into the river, and when, 
despite him, the man escapes, 
Hagen knows thenceforward that 
all are doomed, and breaks up 
the ferryboat after they land. 
This whole passage is intensely 
vivid and dramatic. In passing 
through Bavaria they fight with 
Gelfrat, and his brother Else, 
killing Gelfrat. Coming to Passau, 
where Bishop Pilgrin receives them, 
they reach Bechlam, where Rudi- 
ger entertains them with unbound- 
ed hospitahty and friendhness. 
A match is ultimately arranged 
between Diethnd and Giselher, 
and when the Burgundians leave 
Rudiger showers gifts upon them 
without stint, giving also to Gun- 
ther a suit of armour and to Gemot 
his favourite sword, while Hagen 
chooses from Gotelind a famous 
shield which had belonged to her 
dead father Nodung. Rudiger ac- 
companies the Burgundians to 
Etzel's court. Dietrich and Wolf- 
hart (q.v.) meet them, Dietrich 
warning them that Kriemhild 
prays daily for vengeance for 
Sigfrid's murder. On arrival, 
Hagen and Volker sit outside the 
palace, at sight of Hagen Kriem- 
hild weeps, and bids Etzel's men 
swear to avenge her sorrow. 
When she descends, Hagen sits 
with Sigfrid's sword Balmung 
across his knee, and Kriemhild 
recognizing it demands how he 
has dared to come ? He answers 
that he has come because his 
masters have — ^he is their " man." 
Then Kriemhild accuses him of 
slaying Sigfrid, and Hagen boldly 
admits it. Then she demands the 



NIB 

Nibelung treasure, which Hagen 
tells her is sunk in the Rhine. 
When going to meet her kinsmen 
Kriemhild kisses only Giselher, 
a significant fact ! Next, under 
the guise of friendship, she re- 
quests them to deliver up their 
arms, but they refuse, and Kjiem- 
hild asks who has " warned " 
them. Dietrich replies boldly, " I 
am he," and Kriemhild, bitterly 
fearing Dietrich, goes thence. 
Dietrich and Hagen converse, and 
Etzel joins them, speaking of 
Hagen's father Aldrian, who with 
Walther of Spain was his " man," 
which passage is remarkable, con- 
necting as it does the Nibelungen 
cycle with the Latin poem of 
"Walthar of Aquitain " (q.v.). 
Too lengthy to detail are the 
various attempts of Kriemhild 
to gain her end. She offers gold 
to any one who will slay Hagen, 
but the Huns fear him. Dietrich 
and Hildebrand both refuse to 
assist her, the Burgundians are her 
relatives and have come trusting 
to her good faith ! Next a tourna- 
ment takes place, and Volker 
unluckily kiUs a Hun, but Etzel, 
who looks on his guests with 
favour, protects them. Kriem- 
hild bribes BlodeUn, who, with 
1000 men, attacks Dankwart and 
his retainers. Dankwart slays 
him, but his followers kill all 
Dankwart's men, the hero himself 
escaping with diificulty. Rushing 
to the haU where the rest sit 
feasting with the Huns, and where 
Ortheb, Kriemhild's son, has been 
introduced to the Burgundians, 
in bursts Dankwart, shouting to 
Hagen in fury concerning what 
has befallen. Up rises Hagen 
and slays Ortheb and his attendant 
and strikes off Werbel's hand, and 
a terrible fight takes place till at 
last Dietrich, at Kriemhild's en- 
treaties, intervenes. Gunther at 



NIB 



272 



once permits Dietrich and his 
men, with Etzel, Rudiger and 
Kriemhild, to leave the Hall, 
after which the Burgundians slay 
aU Etzel's attendants. Desperate, 
Etzel and Kriemhild offer heavy 
bribes to any one who will kill 
Hagen. Iring, Margrave of Den- 
mark, bravely makes the attempt 
twice, but is slaia, and Imfrid 
and Hawart are also slain with 
their men. Till night-fall does 
the awful conflict continue, when 
a temporary truce is called. From 
the Burgundians' position inside 
the Hall GiseUier reproaches his 
sister with her treachery, and 
Kriemhild agrees to spare her 
brothers, but only on condition 
that they deliver up Hagen. This 
they will not hear of, thinking 
death infinitely preferable to such 
a deed, and Kriemhild sets the 
Hall on fire. The Burgundians 
well-nigh perish, yet in the morning 
600 strong, they stUl hold the Hall 
against every attack, tiU Kriem- 
hild and Etzel appeal to Rudiger to 
aid them. He is aghast at the 
idea of being a traitor to his 
friends, having pledged his honour 
for their safety. Then Kriemhild 
demands fulfilment of an ancient 
oath to her. Rudiger, torn by 
conflicting claims of honour, has 
in anguish to decide to serve his 
sovereign, and arming his men 
goes reluctantly forth against the 
Burgundians, Giselher rejoicing 
to see him, supposing that he 
comes to aid them. But sorrow- 
fully does Rudiger explain that 
he cannot help himself. They 
plead with him that there be not 
blood between them, but in sad- 
ness he feels he has no alternative, 
and Hagen and he exchange 
their shields, Hagen and Volker 
pledging themselves never to strike 
a blow at Rudiger. The conflict 
commences, and great is the 



NIB 

slaughter of the Burgundians, 
tiU at last Gemot reluctantly has 
to engage Rudiger, and they fall 
by each other's hands, and aU 
Rudiger's men are slain. Uni- 
versal is the sorrow at Rudiger's 
death, and Dietrich sends ffilde- 
brand (but unarmed and in peace) 
to inquire the reason of his being 
slain. Pierce Wolfhart and Die- 
trich's knights follow in armour, 
ere Dietrich can prevent it. Sadly 
does Hagen bewail Rudiger's death 
and Hildebrand asks for his body, 
but " of spite of Etzel " the Bur- 
gundians refuse to give it up. 
Wolfhart provokes a fight, and, 
contrary to Dietrich's orders, a 
conflict takes place. Dankwart 
perishes, Giselher and WoKhart 
slay each other ; Volker kills 
Sigstap, nephew of Dietrich, HUde- 
brand slays Volker, and is in turn 
mortally wounded by Hagen, who 
is heartbroken at Volker's death. 
At length all he dead save Gunther 
and Hagen, and of the other side 
HUdebrand, who returns to Die- 
trich with the terrible news. Die- 
trich goes to Hagen and Gunther, 
and on learning how things have 
come about offers them safe- 
conduct to their own land if they 
wiU yield. They reply that it is 
not fitting for brave men to sur- 
render, and after some " woman- 
ish bickering " between Hagen and 
HUdebrand, Dietrich, seeing Ha- 
gen's " grim mood," fights and 
defeats, first Hagen, then Gun- 
ther, though with difficulty, and 
binds them. He carries them 
to Kriemhild, honouring them for 
their bravery and bidding her 
spare their lives, which she says 
she will do. Dietrich then sadly 
leaves. But httle mercy does 
Kriemhild really feel ; separating 
Hagen and Gunther, she offers 
safety to Hagen if he will reveal 
the hiding place of the Nibelung 



NIB 



treasure. He refuses — " whilst 
any of my lords live I will show 
the hoard to none." Quickly 
then does she have her brother 
Gunther slain, and carries his 
head to Hagen, but Hagen de- 
clares that all is now finished — 
aU are dead — but never will he 
reveal the secret ! So to Koiem- 
hild nothing remains but Sigfrid's 
sword ; seizing it she herself slays 
Hagen. Hildebrand, enraged at 
her deed, when his master Diet- 
rich has asked for Hagen's safety, 
springs up to avenge " the bold 
one of Tronei " and slays Kriem- 
hild. Thus in darkest gloom ends 
the tragic " NibelungenUed." 

NIBLUNG. (F»c?e"Volsungs.") Son 
of Hogni {q.v.). He aided Gu- 
drun (q.v.), in her scheme of re- 
venge against Ath. 

NICODEMUS. Mentioned in the 
Grail poem of Joseph of Arimathea. 
He was sent by Pilate to see that 
Joseph obtained Christ's body and 
the Grail vessel. He assisted Joseph 
in taking the body from the cross and 
washing it, which action so angered 
the Jews that they attempted to 
imprison him, but he escapes. 

NIGHTINGALE, LAY OF THE. A 

romance attributed to Marie de 
France (q.v.). It is already a 
Breton lai, says the story, and is 
known in Brittany as Lauatic. In 
the town of St. Malo in that duchy 
dwelt two knights of great repute, 
one of whom had to wife a lady 
of passing fairness and wit. The 
other knight was a bachelor, and 
set his love upon his neighbour's 
wife, and presently she set her 
heart on him again. They were 
so private and careful in their 
love that no man guessed of it. 
Their houses were side by side, 
so that they could converse from 
the casements and cast letters 
easily to one another. The lady 



273 NUA 

would rise from her bed at night 
to gaze upon her lover who came 
to his window, and this made her 
lord wrathful. Inquiring the 
cause, he was informed by her 
that she loved to hear the night- 
ingale sing. But the husband 
"purposed that very soon the 
nightingale should sing within a 
net," and requested his servants 
to set snares about the house. 
Soon the bird was caught in the 
snare, and the husband wrung 
its neck. But the lady wept its 
evil fate. She embroidered the 
whole story on a piece of white 
samite, wrapped the body of the 
Uttle bird in it, and sent it to her 
lover. He caused a little shrine 
to be fashioned, and carried the 
body of the unhappy bird with 
him wherever he went. 
NOIRONS. A name for Nero in the 

Grand St. Graal. 
NOISE. (F4<ie "Grettir Saga.") A 
big, idle, empty-headed fellow 
who accompanied Grettir and his 
brother Illugi to the laddered 
island of Drangey. 
NORTHGALES, KING OF. Eecorded 
in Arthurian romance as a pro- 
minent figure at the court of 
Arthur. ( Vide " Morte d'Arthur.") 
NORTHUMBERLAND. King of, 
Father of Eponogris (q.v.). He was 
a frequent visitor to the court of 
Arthur. ( Vide " Morte d'Arthur.") 
NUADA OF THE SILVER HAND. In 
Irish romance King of the 
Danaans (q.v.). In a fight with 
the Firbolgs (q.v.) he lost his 
hand, which, however, was re- 
placed with a silver one by an 
artificer. He was slain by the 
terrible glance of Balor (q.v.), the 
Fomorian champion. Muma of 
the White Neck, his grand- 
daughter, was Finn's mother. A 
solar deity, he is identified with 
Cymric Nuad or tudd (q.v.). 



OCE 



274 



OCT 



OCEAN SWEEPER. In Irish ro- 
mance the magical boat of the 
sea-god, Mananan, sail-less, oarless, 
and steered by the wishes of its 
occupant. It was brought by 
Lugh the Sungod from the Land 
of the Living that lay in the 
unknown, misty west. 

OCTAVIAN, EMPEROR, There are 
several different versions of this 
metrical romance, one of which 
is preserved in the hbrary of 
Lincoln Cathedral, while there is 
only one copy of the French 
original known to exist — that in 
the Bodleian Library, dating from 
the fourteenth century. The 
story recounts how Octavian, 
Emperor of Rome, and his queen 
mourned long over the non-ful- 
filment of their desires for an heir 
to the throne. An abbey is 
built to the glory of God and the 
empress is sent thither in the 
hope that their prayers would be 
answered. The emperor receives 
a message announcing the birth 
of two sons. His Joy knows no 
bounds, and in humble thanks- 
giving he attends mass in the 
chapel. During the service his 
mother, who is also present, in- 
forms him that the children over 
whom he is rejoicing are the sons 
of a knave of the castle. After 
imparting this story, she quits 
the chapel, and, instructing a 
knave of the palace to enter the 
sick-chamber of the empress, 
she waits the arrival of her son. 
The emperor's joy is changed 
to anger : and hastening to the 
chamber of his queen he slays 
the knave, whom he beheves to 
be the culprit. The empress, 
who is asleep during this deed, 



dreams of a dragon belching fire 
at her and devouring her children. 
The emperor, injured at the 
deception, swears to put an end 
to the Ufe of his unfaithful wife, 
and to the lives of the children, 
by burning them at the stake. A 
fire is prepared without the city 
and the doomed trio despatched 
at the appointed hour. The queen 
overcome by grief, appeals to 
heaven for succour. So pathetic 
is the scene that the emperor is 
moved by pity arid finally with- 
draws his threat by banishing his 
wife and her children. 

In her lonely wanderings she 
lies down to rest by the side of 
a hermit's well, and while reposing, 
both of her children are carried 
off, the first by an ape, the second 
by a lion. The hon, whose den 
is situated on a hiU, had scarcely 
reached its lair when a griffin 
swoops down upon him and the 
child, and carries off the pair to 
an uninhabited island. But imme- 
diately the lion places his feet 
on the soKtary land he retahates 
on his enemy by slaying it. A 
fondness springs up between the 
lion and the child. 

The distressed mother resumes 
her journey, and finally arriving 
on the coast of Greece she im- 
plores of some shepherds to give 
her food. This they gladly do; 
but anxious to procure more for 
themselves several of them set 
out in a boat for a desert island. 
On reaching their destination they 
discover a hon and a child. The 
hon gives chase, two of the men 
are devoured, the rest make good 
their escape and return to tell 
ttie story of their adventure. 
The banished queen, conscious 



OCT 



that the child is her son, entreats 
the shepherds to row her across 
to the island. This they do with 
some reluctance, but the mother 
is rewarded by the discovery of 
her son, whom she brings back with 
her, followed by the faithful lion. 
The queen again sets sail, when 
the ship brings them to the dis- 
tant shores of Jerusalem. The 
king of that city makes her his 
queen and knights her son Octa- 
vius ; while the lion, become 
harmless, is permitted to live. 

The other child, who had been 
carried ofE by the ape, passes 
through the hands of several 
guardians. A knight slays the 
ape and secures the child. Some 
robbers encounter the knight, cap- 
ture the infant and wound their 
opponent. They hasten to Paris 
and dispose of the child to 
Clement, emperor of that city, 
in return for a few pieces of gold. 
The foundling is christened 
Florent. Some time after, a giant 
appears before the gates of the 
city challenging any knight in 
the name of MarsabeUa, daughter 
to a Saracen king. Florent ob- 
tains his foster-father's permis- 
sion to enter the fray with the 
boastful giant, whom he finally 
slays. Without waiting to re- 
ceive the congratulations of the 
city he hastens off to claim the 
Saracen maiden, but her father, 
angered at his boldness, locks her 
in her room. 

Florent returns to Paris, to 
find that the Emperor Octavian 
has arrived in the city. The 
honour of seating himself between 
the friendly emperors is bestowed 
upon him, and as the outcome to 
some questioning on the part of 
Octavian his identity becomes 
known, the father rejoices in his 
son and dubs him " Sir Florent of 
Kome." 



275 OGI 

Again Sir Florent attempts to 
gain the maiden MarsabeUa. War 
is declared between the Christians 
and the Saracens with Clement 
at the head of the former. Florent 
takes part, and Olyvan, chamber- 
lain to MarsabeUa, directs the 
young knight to his mistress. 
She flees with her lover to Paris. 
The Emperor Octavian, mean- 
while, is opposing a body of 
Saracens at Jerusalem, who have 
besieged the Christian inhabitants 
of that city. Florent joins his 
father's forces and finaUy effects 
an entrance into the beleaguered 
city. The result is the identifica- 
tion of the second son, Octavius 
and the banished queen. A re- 
concihation is effected, Florent 
marries MarsabeUa, and the re- 
united family, accompanied by 
the faithful Hon, return to the 
city of Rome. 

ODILIA (1). Daughter of Elsung 
(q.v.), Earl of Bern. She married 
Samson's {q.v.) second son, after 
a battle between her father and 
King Samson ; the upshot of 
which was the death of the two 
warriors. (Fide "King Samson.") 

ODILIA (2). Wife of Dietmar (q.v.) 
and mother of Dietrich (q.v.), 
{Vide " Dietrich of Bern.") 

OGIER THE DANE. A sub-cycle of 
the Charlemagne Saga. It con- 
sists of twelve branches, and 
belongs to the early period of the 
cycle. It possesses considerable 
epic vigour, and as a whole is one of 
the most notable of the incidents 
connected with the legendary his- 
tory of the great Emperor of the 
West. Ogier was originaUy criti- 
caUy recognized as a Norse rover, 
who had been " softened " into 
one of Charles's peers. But it is 
now put forward with much pro- 
bability that we must read for 
" Danois " " Ardenois," and that 



OGI 



276 



the " Dane-March " which is 
Ogier's country is simply the 
" March " of Ardenois, or the 
Ardennes. There certainly was 
an Otker at the court of Charles, 
but his nationahty is uncertain. 
He became " Advocate " or pro- 
tector of Lifege in Belgium, and is 
stiU remembered there in legend. 
The people of Denmark have 
erected Ogier into a national hero, 
Holger Danske. Ludlow inclines 
to identify him with a certain 
" Algisus, son of Desiderius the 
Lombard, who seems to have 
figured as the hero of some lost 
epic of which the echo has come 
to us in the Novalesian Chronicle." 
The late Alfred Nutt beheved him 
to be " an Arthurian hero who 
had strayed by accident to the 
court of Charlemagne," an im- 
possible elucidation. The poem, 
which exists in an MS. of the 
twelfth century, bears the name 
of Raimbert de Paris. The story, 
however, is made up of eleven 
different strata, written at sepa- 
rate dates, the earhest placed 
about the middle of the work, the 
latest toward the end. Raimbert 
was responsible for nine branches, 
or interpolations in these branches. 
Ogier, son of Duke Godfrey of 
Denmark, has been left as a hos- 
tage with Charlemagne, but as 
his father has insulted the emperor 
through his envoys, the young 
man's hostageship is forfeited, and 
he is imprisoned in the Castle of 
St. Omer. While there the cas- 
tellan's daughter falls in love with 
him, and bears him a son, Bald- 
winet. Charlemagne vows to have 
Ogier hanged, when news comes 
that the Saracens have taken 
Rome. The emperor sets forth 
with his army to the rescue, and 
Ogier is taken along with the host. 
He is instrumental in rescuing 
the French army from serious 



OGI 

defeat. He encounters with 
Chariot, the son of the emperor, 
the Lidian King Karaheut, and 
the Turk Sadone. But other 
paynims interrupt the combat, 
and Ogier is made prisoner. He 
is given into the keeping of Glo- 
rianda, daughter of Corsuble the 
paynim Amiral, and Karaheut, 
shamed that his troth with Ogier 
should be broken, gives himself 
up to Charlemagne as hostage for 
the young Dane's safety. The 
French give battle to the pagans 
and have all but routed them when 
'' the host of India " arrives to 
succour them. Foremost among 
the new-comers is Brunamont of 
Majorca, who beats the French 
back. The Amiral offers to bestow 
Glorianda upon him because of 
his success, but she is faithful to 
Karaheut, and puts forward Ogier 
as his champion. Brunamont 
agrees. Ogier conquers the Sara- 
cen, and takes his wonderful 
horse Broiefort. The French then 
attack the Saracens, and Glori- 
anda is taken prisoner, but she is 
permitted to go free with Kara- 
heut, and the French return to 
their own country. The first 
branch of the poem which ends here 
is evidently in the main modem, 
and probably dates from the end 
of the twelfth century. The birth 
of Baldwinet and the defeat of 
the Saracens are evidently adopted 
from an older work of which a 
further portion is obviously lost, 
as Ogier's leap into fame appears 
as much too sudden. 

The second branch of The Song 
of Ogier is considered the oldest, 
and forms the groundwork of the 
epical portion of the poem. Char- 
lot, playing at chess with Bald- 
winet, Ogier's son, is checkmated 
by him, and in his wrath strikes 
the youth with the chessboard 
and slays him. Ogier seeks 



OGI 



277 



Chariot's life, but the emperor ban- 
ishes him. He attempts to kill 
the emperor, but slays Lother 
his nephew instead. He is at- 
tacked, but is rescued by Charles's 
twelve peers. Pursued by the 
emperor, Ogier wounds him, and 
Charles marches to attack him 
in his dominions. Ogier, hunted 
from place to place, seeks the 
court of Pavia in exUe, where he 
receives great honour and estates 
from Di(£er, its monarch. 

The third branch opens with a 
declaration of Charles to take 
vengeance upon Ogier and Didier 
his new master. Bertram is sent 
to warn Didier to give Ogier up 
to justice. He insults Ogier, who 
refuses to fight with him for the 
sake of his father, and Bertram 
carries back the defiance of Lom- 
bardy. Charles sets out with a 
great host to take Ogier. Didier 
summons his army. In the battle 
which ensues, Ogier at first drives 
the French back, and Charles is 
unhorsed. But at length the 
French prevail, and the Lombards 
fleeing, Ogier is left with five 
hundred knights only. He is, how- 
ever, succoured by Berron and 
Gerin, two Lombard chiefs, with 
their men. But they are slain, 
and Ogier is forced to fly. In his 
flight he slays Bertram. He takes 
a castle single-handed, and de- 
fends it against the emperor. 
He fights his way out under 
cover of night, mounted on his 
steed Broiefort, and succeeds in 
reaching his stronghold of Castle- 
Fort. Charlemagne prepares to 
reduce it. Ogier makes a des- 
perate sally and wounds Charles. 
For five years the emperor sits 
before the castle. Ogier saUies 
out by a subterranean passage, 
but is betrayed by a man of Pavia. 
Bennet, his faithful squire, is 
slain, and Ogier is left alone at 



OGI 

last. He leaps his horse into the 
Rhone and regains his castle. He 
has now but ten knights, one of 
whom, Hardre, a traitor, takes the 
keys to Charles. But Ogier, 
who has been asleep, wakes in 
time, and secures the gate. He 
makes men-at-arms of wood, which 
the French take for real warriors. 
Seven years pass, and famine 
threatens Ogier. He leaves the 
castle to kiU Chariot in bed, but 
slays the wrong man, and is pur- 
sued. He once more escapes and 
seeks his heritage in Denmark. 
He is surprised by Archbishop 
Turpin (g'.v.),and is taken prisoner. 
Turpin is permitted by Charles to 
retain him, and does so for seven 
years. 

In the fourth branch of the 
romance we are told how Brehus, 
King of Africa, invades France 
with a mighty host. Charles frees 
Ogier in order to have his aid 
against the paynim. Ogier re- 
quires to have Chariot placed 
in his hands, to which the emperor 
agrees. Broiefort, Ogier's horse, 
is found harnessed to a porter's 
cart, but is brought back to Ogier. 
Ogier is about to slay Chariot, 
who has been given up to him, 
when St. Michael descends and 
holds his sword. A general re- 
conciUation ensues. This brings 
us to the end of the ninth branch, 
the last of those believed to have 
been worked up by Raimbert of 
Paris from earUer versions. Ogier 
sets out to encounter Brehus, 
who has a magic ointment that 
can heal any wound, however 
grievous. Brehus wearies of the 
combat, requests a truce, and 
sleeps. On the renewal of the 
fight, Brehus kills Broiefort, but 
is eventually slain by Ogier. The 
eleventh and twelfth branches tell 
of Ogier's love for the daughter 
of the King of England, whom he 



OGM 



278 



ORA 



rescues from the Saracens. A 
great battle with the Pagans 
ensued, in which the French are 
completely victorious. Ogier 
marries the princess whom he 
has rescued, and the emperor 
gives him Hainault and Brabant. 
A text preserved in the British 
Museum relates the further ad- 
ventures of Ogier. It dates from 
the middle of the fourteenth 
century and tells how the hero 
voyages to England, later sub- 
duing the East. He subsequently 
undertakes a journey into the 
Eand of Faery, where he meets 
Morgan le Fay, who frees him from 
death. It is, indeed, chiefly in 
this connection with Fairyland 
that the later ItaUan poets have 
celebrated Ogier. He is known 
in EngUsh legend as the father of 
Sir Bevis of Hampton, and is the 
hero of several of the Danish 
ballads of the " Kempe-viser." 

OGMA. In Irish romance, a war- 
rior of Nuada of the Silver Hand 
{q.v.), Lugh {q.v.), craving ad- 
mittance into Tara as a warrior, 
was refused on the score that in 
the palace there was no need of 
another such while Ogma dwelt 
there. 

OISIN (Little Fawn). In Irish ro- 
mance. Son of Finn {q.v.), father 
of Oscar {q.v.). ILnowing no 
father, he Uved till he was a lad 
with his mother Saba {q.v.), who 
had been changed into a hind : 
till one day she unwiUingly fol- 
lowed the dark Druid, her hated 
lover. Alone on Ben Bulben, in 
Shgo, the boy was found by Finn, 
to whom he related his history, 
whence the name given him. Ac- 
cording to the ancient Ossianic 
poems he lived to meet St. Patrick, 
and to relate to him the doings of 
the Fianna {q.v.), hence this bardic 
fame. 



OLAF (1), KING. {Vide "Burnt 
Njal.") Christian King of Norway, 
and successor to the heathen 
Yarl Hacon. 

OLAF (2), KING, {Vide " Grettir 
Saga.") Successor to Yarl Svein 
of Norway {q.v.). 

OLIVER. Son of Rainier of Genoa, 
nephew of Gerard of Viana, and 
brother of Alda ; the early rival 
and later the inseparable com- 
panion of Roland, and one of the 
peers of Charlemagne. For his 
adventures and other matter con- 
cerning him, see " Gerard of 
Viana," "The Song of Roland," 
etc. 

OLLAV FOLA. In Irish romance, a 
king and the most distinguished 
Ollav (doctor) of Ireland, whose 
reign is placed about the year 
1000 B.C. He heads all great 
poUtical and national institutions 
as founder. With him compare 
Goban the Smith. To him it was 
said Ireland owed her triennial 
Fair at Lara. 

ONEYS, CHILDE. {Vide " Amys and 
AmyUon.") A faithful page to Sir 
AmyUon, whom he accompanied 
during his master's affiction. As 
a reward, he succeeded to Amy- 
lion's domains. 

ONUND. ( Vide " Gunnlanng Saga.") 
Father of Rafn {q.v.). 

ORABLE. In the Charlemagne cycle 
of romance, Queen of Thibaut or 
Tybalt, the Pagan monarch of 
Orange. When WiUiam of Orange 
came secretly to the city of that 
name, she succoured him, and 
when he was captured connived 
at his escape. She then offered 
herself to him as his wife, to which 
he consented. She was chris- 
tened under the name of Guiborc. 
{Vide " Wilham of Orange," and 
" Prise d'Orange.") 



ORA 

ORANGE, TAKING OF. {Vide "Prise 
d'Orange.") 

ORGANS. In the Grand St. Graal, a 
heathen king, to whose island 
Pierre, sorely wounded, drifted 
in a boat. His daughter, finding 
Pierre dying on the seashore, 
tended him secretly till he was 
healed. Her father requiring a 
champion, Pierre offered himself 
and conquered the challenger. 
He then converted and baptized 
Orcans, who took the name Lamer 
and married his daughter. 

ORFEO, SIR. May be briefly de- 
scribed as a Celtic adaptation of the 
familiar classical story of Orpheus 
and Eurydice. Queen Heurodys 
is carried off into Fairyland in 
spite of all that human efforts can 
avail. Orfeo follows her in des- 
pair as a minstrel, but his wonder- 
ful melodies at length succeed in 
leading her back to the haunts of 
men. The tale is included in the 
Auchinleck MS. {q.v.). The sub- 
ject of Orpheus and Eurydice was 
also utihzed in Politiano's Favola 
di Orfeo, performed at the court of 
Mantua in 1483. It is rather an 
eclogue than a drama proper, but 
it produced a veritable revolution 
in Italian poetry, and its scrupu- 
lous imitation of antiquity pre- 
pared the way for the revival of 
the classic authors on the Italian 
stage. 

ORGUEILLEUSE, DAME. An inte- 
resting figure in Arthurian legend 
as illustrating mediaeval moraUty. 
Having accompHshed the feat of 
the Ford Perilous, Gawain offers 
love to her, which she flouts. As 
Gawain feels he has done enough 
to win her love — and every knight 
served some lady be she matron 
or maid, he lectures her, as a 
grave middle-aged man might 
some headstrong girl, upon the 



279 ORL 

duties of a well-bred woman, and 
upon the wrong she has done 
knighthood in his person. To 
point the moral he winds up, at 
mid-day in the open forest, with 
a proposition which the repentant 
scornful one can only parry by 
the naive remark, " Seldom she 
had found it warm in the embrace 
of a mail-clad arm." Not only 
was it the lady's duty to yield 
after a proper delay, but at times 
she might even make the first 
advances, and be none the worse 
thought of. Blanchefleur {q.v.) 
comes to Perceval's bed with 
scarce an apology. Orgueilleuse, 
overcome with admiration at the 
Eed Knight's prowess, offers him 
her love. True, she has doubts as 
to the propriety of her conduct, 
but when she submits them to 
Gawain, the favoured lover for the 
time being, he unhesitatingly ap- 
proves her. 

ORKNEY, QUEEN OF. In Arthurian 
romance, wife of King Lot ; sister 
to Arthur ; mother to Mordred, 
begotten of Arthur (q.v.), Gareth, 
Gawaine and Agravaine {vide 
" Morte d'Arthiu: "). She was sub- 
sequently slain by Gaheris, her son, 
because of her familiarity with Sir 
Lancelot. 

ORLANDO. {Vide "Orlando Inna- 
morato," and " Orlando Furioso.") 
Lord of Anglante, became mad 
when he discovered that Angehca 
had forsaken him for Medoro. He 
was afterwards restored to his 
senses by Medoro. 

ORLANDO FURIOSO. A romance in 
ItaUan, in which Ariosto con- 
tinues Boiardo's narrative of the 
amours of the Paladins at the 
court of Charlemagne during the 
fabulous wars of that monarch 
against the Moors. {Vide " Or- 
lando Innamorato.") The various 



ORL 



280 



ORL 



adventures of the many characters 
alluded to in its pages are so in- 
tricate as to render the compila- 
tion of a synopsis a task of no 
little complexity. The following 
is offered as an outhne of the poem. 
When Orlando arrived at the 
Christian camp with AngeHca, 
Charlemagne gave her to Namus. 
In a general battle Agramant and 
MarsUius defeated the Christian 
Army. Angehca fled, and met 
Rinaldo, who fought for her with 
Ferrau. Escaping, she encoun- 
tered Sacripant, but their conver- 
sation was interrupted by Brada- 
mant, who challenged the pagan, 
imhorsed him, and departed, when 
Rinaldo appeared. Furious at 
Sacripant's seeming favour with 
Angehca, Rinaldo attacked the 
Circassian King. Angehca flying, 
met a hermit, who, by a magical 
illusion, separated the two rivals. 
On returning to Paris, Rinaldo 
was sent by Charlemagne on an 
embassy to England. Brada- 
mant, seeking her lover Rogero, 
met Pinabello, who decoyed her 
into a pit. Bradamant found 
herself in Merlin's cave, where she 
beheld Mehssa, who showed her 
in a vision all her descendants 
who were to be famous in history. 
Then she told the maiden how to 
dehver Rogero from the enchanted 
castle of Atlantes. Following 
Mehssa's advice, Bradamant took 
the ring from BruneUo, defeated 
Atlantes, then set his prisoners 
free. But the magician contrived 
Rogero's flight from Bradamant 
on the griffin-horse. Meanwhile 
Rinaldo, entertained at an abbey, 
heard of the misfortunes of Gen- 
eura, daughter to the King of 
Scotland, and undertook her 
defence. Dalindo related the 
loves of Ariodantes and Geneura, 
exposing the treachery of PoU- 
nesso, who had contrived to 



blacken Geneura's reputation, 
caused her to be openly accused 
of unchastity, and by the laws of 
Scotland condemned to death. 
Incensed at Pohnesso's dupKcity, 
Rinaldo took up her cause before 
the king, and entered the hsts 
with her enemy. Being van- 
quished by Rinaldo, Polinesso 
confessed the fraud, and thus 
Geneura's innocence was proved. 
Rogero, carried by the flying- 
horse to Alcina's island, found a 
knight transformed into a myrtle. 
After slaying a troop of monsters 
who opposed his egress, Rogero 
was met by two ladies belonging 
to Alcina's palace. Conquering 
Eriphila, and conducted by the 
two damsels, he arrived at the 
palace, where Alcina received him 
with great joy. Seduced by her 
allurements he led a life of luxury 
and effeminacy, until Mehssa, 
assuming the form of Atlantes, 
delivered him. He then travelled 
towards the country of LogistiUa. 
Leaving Scotland, Rinaldo arrived 
in England, whence the Regent 
transported him to assist Charle- 
magne. Angehca, conveyed to a 
desolate island, then cast into a 
deep sleep by a hermit, was cap- 
tured by mariners. Orlando, leav- 
ing Paris disguised, went out in 
search of Angelica, and heard how 
the people of Ebuda daily sacri- 
ficed a virgin to a sea-monster. 
He resolved to oppose these is- 
landers, but beiug cast ashore by 
a tempest, met Olympia, who 
explained her expulsion from her 
hereditary dominions, whereupon 
Orlando undertook both her re- 
storation and revenge. Rogero, 
journeying towards EogistiUa, 
arrived safely at the castle, where 
Alcina in vain endeavoured to 
oppose him. He departed on the 
griflSn-horse to Europe, visited 
England, and was present at the 



ORL 



281 



ORL 



review of the forces raised to 
assist Charlemagne. Passing 
Ebuda, he beheld AngeUca bound 
to a rock, ready to be devoured 
by a sea-monster. Rogero res- 
cued AngeUca, made love to her, 
but by aid of the magic ring she 
became invisible, and, deceived by 
Bradamant's vision, he was de- 
coyed to the enchanted palace of 
Atlantes. Orlando, in pursuit of 
AngeUca, found Olympia exposed 
to be devoured by the ore, a 
monster which he killed. Oberto, 
King of Ireland, married Olympia, 
and Orlando resumed his search 
for AngeUca. Deluded by her Uke- 
ness, he was drawn to the en- 
chanted castle of Atlantes, where 
AngeUca arrived, found Orlando, 
Sacripant, and Ferrau, all of 
whom she deUvered by her magic 
ring. While Orlando and Ferrau 
contended, AngeUca departed, 
foUowed by Sacripant; Orlando, 
in quest of Angelica, found a 
damsel detained in a cave of 
outlaws. He heard how Isabella, 
loved by Zerbino, whose trust 
Odorico had betrayed, was cap- 
tured by these outlaws, from 
whom Orlando deUvered her. Bra- 
damant lamented Rogero 's ab- 
sence, but was comforted by 
MeUssa, who instructed her how 
to deUver him from the castle of 
Atlantes, conducted her thither, 
then left her. Meanwhile Agra- 
mant prepared to muster his 
forces. Mandricardo, searching 
for Orlando, met Doralis, be- 
trothed to Rodomont, attacked 
her guard, and carried her off by 
force. Rinaldo led the Christian 
army to the walls of Paris, 
Agramant began the assault, and 
Rodomont scaled the ramparts, 
amidst fearful slaughter of the 
Christians, who made a gallant 
defence. Astolpho, dismissed with 
presents from Logistilla, was con- 



ducted by Andronica and Sophro- 
syne on his passage home. When 
they reached the Persian Gulf, 
the knight pursued his journey 
by land, arrived at Egypt, and 
took captive CaUgorant the giant. 
He found Gryphon and Aquilant 
fighting with Orilo, whom Astolpho 
slew, then all entered Jerusalem 
where Sansonetto welcomed them. 
Gryphon met Origilla, who, having 
been proved faithless, charged 
him with inconstancy. Rodomont 
continued to besiege Paris with 
fearful slaughter. While Agra- 
mant led his forces in by a gate- 
way, Rinaldo came to succour the 
Christians, but Rodomont de- 
stroyed all with fire and sword, 
until opposed by Charlemagne. 
Gryphon, Martano, and Origillo 
arrived at Damascus, w^here a 
knight hospitably entertained 
them, and related how Lucina, 
loved by Norandino, was rescued 
from the ore by Mandricardo and 
Gradasso, whereupon Norandino 
celebrated the event by a tourna- 
ment in which Gryphon overcame 
aU opponents, but Martano by 
fraud obtained the prize. Rodo- 
mont, attacked by Charlemagne 
and his Paladins, left Paris, and 
repassing the Seine, heard that 
DoraUs was carried o£E by Mandri- 
cardo. The emperor returned, 
and renewed the battle, Lurcanio 
being slain. Gryphon revenged 
his disgrace by slaying many 
people of Damascus. Marphisa, 
Astolpho, and Sansonetto, con- 
quering aU opponents at the 
Jousts, with Aquilant and Gryphon 
embarked for France. Cloridano 
and Medoro, seeking to bury 
Dardinello, whom Rinaldo slew, 
were captured, and Qoridano 
killed. AngeUca found Medoro 
wounded, healed him, became 
enamoured, then married him. 
The four knights and Marphisa, 



ORL 



282 



escaping shipwreck, were cast on 
the land of the Amazons. Mar- 
phisa, having killed nine cham- 
pions, fought equally with Guido 
the Savage, who related how, by 
ancient law, every invader per- 
ished unless he conquered the 
Amazon's ten champions. Guido 
deplored his thraldom under 
female sway, helped the knights 
to escape, but when nearly over- 
powered Astolpho blew his magic 
horn, which so terrified the Ama- 
zons that all embarked. After- 
wards landing, Marphisa separated 
from the knights, and met Gab- 
rina, whom he defended against 
Pinabello, then against Zerebino, 
to whom he consigned Gabrina. 
Zerebino next fought with Her- 
monides, who related how Ga- 
brina, married to Argeo, had en- 
deavoured to seduce Philander, 
the brother of Hermonides, caus- 
ing him to slay Argeo in mistake 
for Morando. Astolpho arrived 
at the enchanted palace of At- 
lantes, blew his magic horn, dis- 
solved the enchantment, and libe- 
rated the prisoners. Rogero 
meeting Bradamant, departed 
with her, then they were asked 
by a damsel to deliver Richardetto 
from being burnt aHve for vm- 
chastity, after which Rogero de- 
feated the four knights who 
threatened to despoil aU strangers 
passing that way. Bradamant 
after slaying Pinabello in revenge, 
lost herself in a wood, where 
Astolpho found her. Meeting her 
brother Alardo, she went with 
him to Mount Albano, then sent 
Hippalca to Rogero with his horse 
Frontino, which Rodomont after- 
wards took from her. Zerebino, 
finding PinabeUo's dead body, 
was accused by Gabrina of the 
murder, doomed to death, but 
delivered by Orlando, who, on 
discovering the loves of Angelica 



ORL 

and Medoro, became mad with 
grief. Zerebino and Isabella met 
Almonio and Corebo, who brought 
Odorico to receive from Zerebino 
punishment for breach of faith. 
Mandricardo and Rodomont 
fought for Doralis, till, at her 
request, they desisted, and de- 
parted to aid Agramant. When 
Rogero arrived with the damsel, 
after slajdng a hundred who 
opposed him, he delivered Richard- 
etto, who accompanied him to 
the castle of Agrismont, where 
they were entertained by Aldiger. 
The three knights now undertook 
to rescue Malagigi and Vivian 
from the Pagans, defeated the 
troops of Maganza, and Uberated 
the two prisoners. Hippalca ar- 
rived, explained how Rodomont 
stole Frontino from her, and 
when he appeared Rogero claimed 
his horse. Malagigi fearing for 
Richardetto 's safety, caused a 
demon to enter Doralis' horse, 
which carried her away, followed 
by Mandricardo and Rodomont, 
pursued by Rogero and Marphisa. 
The four warriors, joined by 
Gradasso and Sacripant, attacked 
Charlemagne so fiercely that the 
Christian army fled. Rogero 
again claimed the shield of Hector, 
Rodomont and Sacripant disputed 
Rogero 's horse Frontino, BruneUo 
was forcibly carried off by Mar- 
phisa, and Doralis preferred Man- 
dricardo to Rodomont, which so 
enraged the jealous king of Algiers, 
that he left the camp. At a 
country inn Rodomont heard how 
Astolpho and Jocundo, finding 
their consortsfalse,visited Flanders, 
France, and Albion in quest of 
love ; on realizing that other 
men's wives were also unchaste 
they returned home. Rodomont 
set out for Algiers, but seeing a 
deserted chapel, resolved to reside 
therein. IsabeUa arrived with the 



ORL 



283 



dead body of Zerbino, slain by 
Mandricardo. The Algerian king 
fell in love with her, urged her to 
break her vow of virginity, but 
she preserved her honour by 
telling him of a herb, which, 
distilled, would render him in- 
vulnerable. Medoro and Ange- 
lica, about to embark for India, 
were accosted by Orlando, and 
with great difficulty, escaped from 
the madman's hands. Contending 
for the shield of Hector, Rogero 
slew Mandricardo ; Bradamant, 
inquiring as to her lover's welffire 
heard tidings of the absent one 
by Hippalca. On arriving at 
Mount Albano, Rinaldo prepared 
with six other knights to go to 
assist Charlemagne, while Brada- 
mant remained behind at Mount 
Albano. Meeting Guido the 
Savage, they were challenged by 
him, and Richardetto, Alardo, 
then Guichardo were in turn over- 
thrown, but Rinaldo engaged him 
until stopped by dusk ; then all 
arrived at Charlemagne's camp 
and defeated Agramant. There- 
after Gradasso enjoined Rinaldo 
to finish their contest for Bayardo. 
Having fled to Arli, the African 
monarch was relieved by Marphisa, 
who caused Brunello to be hanged 
for steahng her sword. Brada- 
mant, meeting a Gascon knight, 
learnt that Marphisa now usurped 
Rogero 's affections. Leaving 
Mount Albano, she met Ulania, 
arrived at Sir Tristram's lodge, 
unhorsed three kings, and was 
hospitably received by the lord 
of the castle. Next morning the 
female warrior unhorsed the three 
kings a second time. While 
Rinaldo and Gradasso fought for 
Bayardo, the horse was attacked 
by a monstrous bird. They 
ceased fighting, Gradasso caught, 
then mounted, the affrighted 
steed, and embarked for his own 



ORL 

country. Meanwhile Astolpho, 
flying through the air, reached 
the capital of King Senapus, in 
Ethiopia, drove the harpies from 
the king's table to Hell, where he 
met the ghost of Lydia, punished 
for scorning her lover on earth. 
The English duke then flew to 
Paradise, where St. John the 
Evangehst instructed him how 
to restore Orlando to his senses, 
then conveyed him to the moon, 
where he beheld the three fatal 
sisters spinning the thread of life. 
Bradamant had now met Flordelis, 
and undertook to deliver Brandi- 
mart from the hands of Rodomont. 
This feat she accomphshed in a 
joust with the pagan king on a 
bridge, then on reaching Arli, 
sent Flordehs with a challenge to 
Rogero, after which she unhorsed 
at three separate encounters, Per- 
pentino, Grandonio, and Ferrau. 
Marphisa was next unhorsed by 
the intrepid damsel, and when 
Rogero appeared he also was 
attacked. The lovers then re- 
tired to a solitary grove, pursued 
by Marphisa, who now assaulted 
Bradamant. Rogero interposed, 
but Marphisa turned fiercely on 
him, until the combat was broken 
off by a Voice which proclaimed 
them brother and sister. Rogero, 
Bradamant, and Marphisa, meet- 
ing three damsels whose garments 
were chpt away, undertook their 
revenge. They arrived at Lemnos 
and heard how Morganor, on being 
deprived of his two sons through 
love of women, banished all 
females. The undaunted three 
attacked the castle, took Morganor 
prisoner, and Marphisa decreed 
that henceforth, every husband 
should be ruled by his wife. 
Astolpho, dismissed from Paradise 
by Orlando's wit, returned to 
Nubia, restored Senapus to sight, 
who besieged Biserta. Where- 



ORL 

upon Agramant sent an embassy 
to Charlemagne, urging him to 
decide the war by single combat. 
The emperor agreed, so Rogero 
and Rinaldo were the champions 
chosen. As they contended, 
Agramant, by Mehssas' device, 
broke the truce, and a general 
battle ensuing, the knights sepa- 
rated. Landing in Africa, Astol- 
pho received Olivero, Sansonetto, 
Brandimart and other Christian 
knights, then mad Orlando en- 
tered the camp, and the Enghsh 
duke restored him to his 
senses. Agramant, sailing from 
ArU, was attacked by Dudon's 
fleet, and his ships destroyed. 
The African monarch escaped 
with Sobrino, and at the siege of 
Biserta, Brandimart put Agra- 
mant to flight, who, meeting 
Gradasso, enhsted his aid. The 
three pagans then challenged 
Orlando, Brandimart, and Olivero. 
Rogero, following the king to his 
native Africa, arrived at Marseilles, 
contested with Dudon, and released 
seven kings captured from Agra- 
mant. He embarked with them 
for Africa, and in a dreadful storm 
all perished but himself. The 
three Christian knights departed 
for Idpadusa, and left Flordelis 
behind in great affliction. Rogero 
escaped by swimming to an island, 
where he was entertained by a 
hermit, and received Christian 
baptism. In the combat Agra- 
mant, Gradasso and Brandimart 
were slain. Rinaldo, hearing 
from Malagigi that Angelica had 
left France with Medoro, resolved 
on pursuit. In the forest of Arden 
he was attacked by Jealousy, 
dehvered by a knight, and by 
drinking at the fountain of Dis- 
dain, cured of his love for Ange- 
lica. 

After refusing to drink of the 
enchanted cup offered by a Man- 



284 ORL 

tuan knight, Rinaldo embarked 
in a vessel, heard how the judge 
Anselmo had sentenced his wife 
Argia to death for infidelity ; but 
she, finding him also false, thereby 
became absolved. Reaching Lipa- 
dusa, Rinaldo thence proceeded 
with Orlando, Sobrino, and OHvero 
to the island of the hermit, where 
they met Rogero, to whom Rinaldo 
promised his sister Bradamant, 
then all departed for Marseilles, 
where Astolpho joined them, and 
together they entered Paris in 
triumph. Amon, having pre- 
viously promised his daughter 
to Leon, quarrelled with his son 
Rinaldo, whereupon Bradamant 
left her father's court, and was 
immured in a castle. Leaving 
Paris to Mil Leon, Rogero assisted 
the Bulgarians against the Greeks, 
whom he defeated. Whilst asleep 
the brave knight was seized by 
Unguardo, dehvered over to Theo- 
dora, desirous to revenge the 
death of her son, killed by 
Rogero. After defying Leon, 
Bradamant returned to Amon's 
court, Rogero was released by 
Leon, then fought Bradamant 
in Leon's stead. Marphisa inter- 
ceded for Rogero with Charle- 
magne, and contested Leon's 
claim, which Amon opposed. 
Searching for Rogero, Leon 
accosted MeUssa, who conducted 
him to the warrior, then all 
returned to Charlemagne's court. 
The Bulgarian ambassadors 
offered Rogero the crown of Bul- 
garia, Amon and Beatrice con- 
sented to his marriage with Brada- 
mant, and Melissa presided over 
the nuptials. At the festival, 
Rodomont appeared, challenged 
Rogero, who slew the fierce Sara- 
cen in the duel. 

In Orlando, mad for love of 
Angehca, cured by disdaining 
those charms formerly prized, is 



ORL 



285 



displayed an intimate knowledge 
of the heart, which brooks no 
rival in its affections. Angelica, 
forsaking Orlando for Einaldo, 
then espousing Medoro, represents 
a type of feminine fickleness, 
liable to form new attachments. 
Astolpho, transformed into a 
myrtle by Alcina, and recovering 
his former shape by MeUssa, 
in allegory, represents the true 
image of the man lost through 
sensuahty. Alcina personifies 
vice, by whom men are captivated ; 
by Logistilla is meant reason, 
which deUvers them from sin. 
Rogero, intoxicated with the 
beauty of Alcina, is seduced from 
virtue by the siren's alluring 
charms ; but detecting her de- 
pravity, he ultimately escapes 
from her power. Bradamant, 
the female warrior, in love with 
Rogero, is a noble character, 
loyal to truth, zealous in every 
good cause, whose fidelity wins 
her wayward lover's heart. The 
most exalted sentiments of honour 
are expressed by Rinaldo, ever 
ready to succour the distressed, 
to avenge cruelty, or to estabhsh 
justice. Isabella, in despair when 
her lover Zerbino is slain, with 
dignity upholds the sanctity of 
love, which she renounces for 
reHgion. Rodomont, who loved 
DoraUs, and when discarded by 
her became enamoured of Isabella, 
whom he ultimately killed, then 
fell a victim to his own impor- 
tunity, points the danger of defying 
ordained laws. 

ORLANDO INNAMORATO. An Ita- 
lian treatment of the Charlemagne 
Cycle by Count Maria Boiardo 
(1430-1494) (q.v.). The valour of 
Orlando, the charms displayed by 
Angelica, who exercises supreme 
power over the hearts of the 
knights, the marvellous adven- 



ORL 

tures of the redoubtable Rodo- 
mont, excite an interest which 
in popularity was surpassed only 
by iioiosto, who continued the 
romance in Orlando Furioso (q.v.). 
Charlemagne proclaimed a solemn 
feast and tournament in Paris, 
at which many foreign princes 
and knights were present from 
various parts of the world, both 
pagan and Christian. On a cer- 
tain day, when all the nobles and 
strangers were assembled, an un- 
known knight and lady entered 
the hall, attended by four giants 
of great stature. The lady, whose 
charms dazzled all the spectators, 
addressed herself to the emperor. 
She told him that her name was 
Angelica, that she came with her 
brother Uberto from a distant 
kingdom, attracted by the fame 
and the magnificence of his court ; 
that her brother who earnestly 
desired to prove his valour with 
the warriors then present, was 
ready to meet any of them in the 
field, whether Saracen or Christian; 
upon condition, that whoever was 
unhorsed by him, should imme- 
diately become his prisoner. If 
he should be overthrown, he pro- 
mised to depart with the giants, 
and leave his sister as the prize 
of the conqueror. The fair 
stranger concluded by saying that 
her brother would expect them at 
his pavilion without the city. 
Having received a gracious answer 
the lady retired with her company 
while every knight, captivated 
with her charms, felt the utmost 
impatience to enter the lists with 
the strange warrior. But above 
the rest, Orlando, whose eyes had 
been riveted on so beautiful an 
object, confessed the pangs of 
love, though he studiously en- 
deavoured to conceal his inward 
emotions. Even Namus could 
not resist the power of such 



ORL 



286 



ORL 



perfections, nor was Charlemagne 
himself wholly exempted from the 
general contagion. Meanwhile 
Malagigi, a cousin of Rinaldo, 
who was deeply skilled in magic, 
suspecting that the visit of these 
strangers boded no good to the 
Christians, had recourse to his 
art, and upon consulting his 
familiars received intelligence that 
the lady was daughter to Gala- 
phron, King of Cathay ; that the 
knight her brother was not called 
Uberto, but Argaha ; that the 
king their father, to effect a great 
design which he meditated, had 
procured for his son a suit of 
enchanted armour, a golden lance 
of such hidden virtue, that the 
least touch of it would dismount 
the stoutest warrior, and a horse 
of incomparable swiftness. To 
these gifts he added a ring of such 
wonderful efficacy, that being con- 
veyed into the mouth, it made the 
person invisible, and, being worn 
upon the finger, had the power 
to frustrate aU enchantments. 
The king, however, confided chiefly 
in the beauty of his daughter, not 
doubting that her charms would 
fascinate the champions of Charle- 
magne, and that she would bring 
them prisoners to the throne of 
Cathay. Malagigi, having heard 
this, conceived the design of 
delivering his country from the 
impending danger. He caused 
himself to be transported by his 
spirits to the paviUon of Argaha, 
whom he found asleep, with Ange- 
lica near him, guarded by the four 
giants. These he soon cast into 
a deep slumber by the force of 
his spells, and drew his sword with 
a determination to put an end to 
the hfe of this dangerous beauty. 
But as he approached her, he 
began to feel sensations of a very 
different nature, tiU every reso- 
lution, giving way to the softer 



passions that inspired him from 
a nearer view of her charms, he 
could no longer resist the powerful 
impulse, but advanced to embrace 
her. Angelica, who had the ring 
upon her finger, which preserved 
her from the force of his incanta- 
tions, suddenly awoke, and finding 
herself in the arms of a man, 
uttered a loud cry. Argalia ran 
to her assistance, and seized 
Malagigi, while the princess made 
herself mistress of his magical 
book, and calling upon his spirits, 
commanded them to convey the 
prisoner to her father's kingdom, 
which was performed in an instant. 
In order to put an end to the 
dissension that had arisen in the 
Christian court, each champion 
claiming the preference to first 
enter the hsts with Argalia, the 
emperor commanded that lots 
should be drawn. The names 
that appeared were Astolpho, 
Ferrau, Rinaldo, and next Charle- 
magne, who would not be excluded 
notwithstanding his age. After 
these came many more before the 
name of Orlando appeared. As- 
tolpho being armed, as the first 
on the hst of combatants, pre- 
sented himself to encounter Arga- 
ha, was unhorsed by the golden 
lance, and sent prisoner into the 
pavilion. Next morning at day- 
break, Ferrau, a Spanish knight, 
came from the city to try his 
fortune, and was overthrown in 
the same manner. But refusing 
to yield to the conditions of the 
combat, the giants endeavoured 
to seize his person. These he 
slew, and compelled Argaha to 
engage him on foot. AngeUca, 
fearing the issue of their combat, 
fied, when Argalia, perceiving 
her flight, followed her, and was 
as suddenly pursued by Ferrau, 
who, after some time, entering 
the forest of Arden, found Argalia 



ORL 



287 



asleep, who had not been able to 
overtake his sister. The Spaniard 
determined that he should not 
escape him, turned Argalia's horse 
loose, and waited, with the utmost 
impatience, till his enemy awoke. 
An obstinate battle then ensued, 
till victory at last declared for 
Terrau. Argalia, finding himself 
mortally woxmded, entreated that 
when he was dead, his body, with 
all his armour, might be thrown 
into the river, that no one might 
wear it after him, and reproach 
his memory for suffering himself 
to be vanquished when he was 
defended with impenetrable ar- 
mour. Ferrau promised to grant 
his request, having first desired 
the use of his helmet for a few 
days, his own being demoUshed 
in the battle. After the departure 
of Argaha, Angehca, and Ferrau, 
Astolpho having recovered his 
liberty, mounted his horse, took 
the golden lance which Argaha 
had left behind him, and returned 
to the city. In his way he met 
Rinaldo, who was impatient to 
learn the issue of the combat ; 
and having heard what had passed 
determined to go in search of 
AngeUca. .Orlando, who had felt 
no ease since the appearance of 
the lovely stranger, after Astol- 
pho 's return, left the court of 
Charlemagne, set out Ukewise to 
foUow Angelica, and in his way 
met with various adventures. 
When Rinaldo first left the court 
of Charlemagne to follow Angelica, 
he entered the forest of Arden, 
where he came to the enchanted 
fountain made by Merlin the 
magician, to cure Sir Tristram 
of his passion for Isolta. But 
although it so happened that the 
knight never tasted of the water, 
yet the virtue of it remained 
ever after. Rinaldo, arriving 
here, drank of the fountain, and 



ORL 

immediately found his love for 
Angelica changed into hatred. 
He then came to the other foun- 
tain, Ukewise the work of Merlin, 
called the Fountain of Love, 
which had the faculty of inspiring 
the breast with that passion. 
Here, tempted by the beauty of 
the place, he alighted from his 
horse, yet, as he had before 
quenched his thirst, he drank not 
of the stream, but stretching 
himself on the turf, soon fell into 
a profound sleep. Angehca, who 
had fled while her brother was 
engaged with Ferrdu, was led 
by chance to the same place 
where Rinaldo lay. The princess, 
fatigued with her flight, and in- 
vited by the clearness of the 
water, drank a large draught, and 
conceived a violent passion for 
the sleeping knight, whom she 
stood contemplating with inex- 
pressible pleasure, till he awakened. 
As soon as Rinaldo opened his 
eyes, and beheld Angelica, who 
was now become the object of his 
most bitter aversion, he remounted 
his horse, and left the place with 
the utmost precipitation, in spite 
of the most moving entreaties 
which the lovesick virgin urged 
to detain him. About this time 
Gradasso, King of Sericane, having 
long been desirous to get posses- 
sion of Durindana, Orlando's 
sword, and of Bayardo, Rinaldo's 
horse, passed with a great army 
into France, and Orlando being 
absent, he defeated Charlemagne 
in a general battle, and made him 
and many of his leaders prisoners. 
Charlemagne promised, at the re- 
turn of Orlando, to give up to him 
Durindana and Bayardo, but Or- 
lando refused to resign them, and 
challenged Gradasso to the Joust, 
overthrowing him with the 
golden lance. According to the 
conditions of their encounter. 



ORL 

Charlemagne and all the prisoners 
were set at liberty. Gradasso 
then joined himself to Marsilius. 
After the return of Angelica to 
India, Agrican, King of Tartary, 
and father of Mandrucardo, de- 
manded her in marriage. Being 
refused by her, he raised a great 
army, and besieged her in Al- 
bracca, the capital of Cathay, 
inviting other nations to join 
him. Many gallant actions were 
performed at the siege. Orlando, 
Brandimart, Sacripant, Marphisa, 
Astolpho, and many others, took 
the part of Angehca. But B;inaldo, 
who at that time hated Angehca, 
from his having drunk of the 
enchanted fountain, joined him- 
self to her enemies, in consequence 
of which he had several encounters 
with Orlando. After various suc- 
cesses on either side, and an 
infinity of adventures engaged in 
by the several knights during the 
siege, Agrican was slain by Or- 
lando in single combat. Angehca, 
hearing that Rinaldo, whom she 
then loved, had gone to France, 
persuaded Orlando to accompany 
her thither. After her departure, 
the enemies of Albracca, taking 
advantage of the absence of Or- 
lando, and her other brave de- 
fenders, took the city by storm, 
and reduced it to ashes. When 
Angelica, after the taking of 
Albracca, returned to France with 
Orlando, she passed again through 
the Forestof Arden,and,in herway, 
happened to drink of the fountain 
of hatred, which entirely obhte- 
rated her former passion. About 
the same time Ronaldo, meeting 
with the contrary fountain, drank 
of the waters of love. While the 
siege of Albracca was being carried 
on, Agramant, the young King of 
Africa, only twenty-two years of 
age, and the bravest knight in 
the dominions of Africa, except 



288 ORL 

Rodomont, King of Sarza, burning 
with desire to revenge the death 
of his father Troyano, slain by 
the Christians, ordered a coimcil 
to be called in the city of Biserta, 
the capital of his empire. When 
thirty-two kings, his tributaries, 
were assembled, he proposed to 
them his design of invading the 
kingdom of Qiarlemagne. After 
many debates it was at last 
resolved to transport a powerful 
force into France, notwithstanding 
the prophecy of the King of Gara- 
manta, who declared that the 
expedition would prove fatal to 
Agramant and his army. When 
the King of Garamanta had in 
vain endeavoured to dissuade 
Agramant from his designed in- 
vasion of France, he told the 
monarch that there remained but 
one expedient by which he might 
hope to meet with any success 
against the Christians. This was, 
to take with him a yoiuig hero, 
named Rogero, who then resided 
with Atlantes the magician, on 
Mount Carena. Agramant, having, 
in consequence of his advice, made 
many fruitless researches to find 
the fatal warrior, was directed, 
by the King of Garamanta, to 
procure the enchanted ring, then 
in possession of Angehca, daughter 
of Galaphron, King of Cathay, 
without which the retreat of 
Atlantes could never be discovered. 
Thereupon, Agramant offering 
great rewards to any one that 
would undertake this adventure, 
Brunello, a person of mean extrac- 
tion, but well versed in the arts 
of fraud, engaged to perform it. 
Accordingly, he went to Albracca, 
stole the ring from the princess, 
and brought it to Agramant, who, 
in recompense for his good service, 
made him king of Tangitana. In 
this excursion, Brunello, likewise, 
stole Sacripant's horse, Marphisa 's 



ORL 



289 



sword, Orlando's sword which he 
had won from the enchantress 
Falerina, and the famous horn 
which he had taken from Almontes. 
Agramant, having got possession 
of this precious ring, went, with all 
his court, to the mountain, where 
Atlantes was said to reside. The 
ring having dispelled every mist 
that enchantment had cast before 
his eyes, they soon discovered the 
rock on which was the wonderful 
dwelling. But the height for- 
bidding all approaches to it, 
Agramant, by the advice of Bru- 
nelLo, ordered a tournament to 
be held on the plain at the foot 
of the rock. Rogero, roused by 
the sound of the warlike instru- 
ments, and fired with the sight of 
horses and armour, which he 
stood for some time contemplating 
from the summit of the rock, at 
last made Atlantes, though with 
great reluctance, descend with 
him to the plain. Brunello, who 
carefully watched the success of 
his project, soon espied Rogero 
with Atlantes, and drawing near 
them, entered into conversation. 
Brunello, being then completely 
armed and mounted on Frontino, 
observed that Rogero was struck 
with the beauty of his horse and 
armour, so he presented them to 
him, and the young warrior im- 
patiently arming himself, and 
girding Bahsarda to his side, 
leaped on Frontino, and entered 
the lists, where he overthrew 
every opponent, and obtained 
the honours of the day. All the 
combatants were astonished at 
the valour of this unknown cham- 
pion, till Agramant, having at 
last discovered him to be Rogero, 
whom he had so eagerly sought 
for, received him with open arms, 
and conferred upon him the honour 
of knighthood. He engaged Ro 
gero to accompany him to France, 



ORL 

notwithstanding all the argument 
used by Atlantes, to dissuade the 
king from taking Rogero with 
him in that expedition. During 
the battle between the pagans 
and the Christians, Rogero so 
distinguished himself that Brada- 
mant, struck with his manly de- 
portment, was desirous to learn 
who he was, and received from 
him the account of his origin. 
Bradamant, in return, revealed 
her birth and name, and taking 
off her helmet, surprised the young 
warrior with her beauty. At this 
instant a band of pagans fell in 
with them, one of whom wounded 
Bradamant in the head, which 
was then unarmed. Rogero, who 
had by this time conceived a 
violent passion for the fair warrior, 
and enraged at the brutality of 
the action, advanced furiously to 
revenge it on the author. The 
Pagans then attacked him all at 
once, and Bradamant, who now 
began to feel the tenderest senti- 
ments for Rogero, immediately 
joined him. Their united force 
soon vanquished their adversaries, 
who were either slain or put to 
flight. But it so happened that 
in the pursuit the two lovers were 
separated, this being their first 
meeting. Throughout the war the 
young Rogero was accompanied 
by Atlantes, who, since he could 
not divert his charge from the 
pursuit of glory, was prompted by 
his anxiety to be near him in 
time of danger. The enchanted 
castle represents the carnal appetite 
which holds men prisoners; by 
Atlantes is figured love ; Brandi- 
mart and Flordelis, pagans by 
birth, converted to Christianity, 
represent patterns of conjugal 
affection. Sacripant, one of Ange- 
lica's most faithful lovers, affords 
an example of the brave and noble 
actions love can inspire. Angelica 

u 



ORT 

is a natural lively picture of the 
coquetry and levity of the fair 
sex, and never takes hold of the 
heart as do the more steadfast 
Bradamant, Flordelis, or Isabella, 
these models of female excellence. 
Astolpho, decoyed to the palace 
of Alcina, illustrates the danger 
of tampering with vice. Mar- 
phisa, who vowed to capture the 
three kings, Gradasso, Agrican, 
and Charlemagne, shows what 
may be accomphshed by tenacity 
of purpose. For the continuation 
of the romance, see Orlando Fu- 
riqso. 

Up to 1545 the poem would 
seem to have been extremely 
popular, for between that date 
and the date of the editio princepa 
it had passed through no fewer 
than sixteen editions. But after 
1545 it was never again printed 
until 1830, when Parrizzi pub- 
lished an excellent edition with 
notes in nine volumes. 

ORTLIEB. {Vide " Nibelungenhed.") 
Son of Kriemhild and Etzel. He 
was bom seven years after Kriem- 
hild (q.v.), married Etzel (q.v.). 
King of the Huns, and he was six 
years old when the Burgundians 
came to the Court of Etzel. During 
a great feast Ortlieb was brought 
in and introduced to Gunther 
(q.v.) and his retinue, but was 
slain by Hagen {q.v.) in his wrath 
at the attack on Dankwart {q.v.), 
who burst into the hall telling of 
how he had been attacked by 
Blodehn (q.v.) by order of Kriem- 
hild. 

ORTRUN. (F»(^ "Gudrun Lay"— 
third division of, under heading 
" Gudrun.") Daughter of Ludwig 
and Gerlinte, King and Queen of 
Ormany, sister of Hartmut. 
Married Ortwein, brother of Gud- 
run. Sweet and gentle, she loved 
Gudrun and endeavoured to lighten 



290 OTK 

the sufferings which Gerlinte in- 
flicted upon that princess to induce 
her to marry Hartmut. Ortrun 
pled her brother's cause with 
Gudrun, but in vain. When Gud- 
run's rescuers came, she saved 
Ortrun and her maidens from the 
fury of Wate (q.v.), taking her 
with her to Hegelingen, where she 
prevailed upon her mother, Hilda, 
to receive Ortrun with kindness. 
Twice Ortrun induced Gudrun to 
intercede for Hartmut's safety, — 
once during the fight at Ormany, 
and later at Hegelingen. {Vide 
" Hartmut.") 

OSANTRIX. Son of King Hermit 
(q.v.) and husband to Oda {q.v.). 
He ruled over the Wilkinmen and 
was a consistent enemy of Dietrich 
of Bern {q.v.). He was slain by 
Elgel {q.v.). 

OSCAR. In Irish romance son of 
Oisin {q.v.), grandson of Finn 
{q.v.). The fiercest warrior of the 
Fianna, he was slain in siagle 
combat with, and slew the King 
of Ireland, Cairbry {q.v.), in the 
Battle of Gowra {q.v.). 

OSILE. (F«e "Guy of Warwick.") 
Daughter of the Duke of Lorraine. 
Married Sir Thierry. 

OTHO.DUKEOFPAVIA. (See "Guy 
of Warwick.") He was over- 
thrown by Sir Guy at a tournament 
at Rouene. He placed some 
warriors in ambuscade for Sir 
Guy, but he escaped. Otho was 
wounded at the siege of Louvain. 
He acted in a very treacherous way 
to Thierry and Osile, and took 
them prisoners, but Sir Guy 
dehvered them and killed Otho. 

OTKELL. (FjcZe "Burnt Njal.") A 
rich and covetous farmer who, 
refusing to sell food to Gunnar 
{q.v.), soon afterwards found his 
store-house robbed and burnt. By 



OTR 



291 



Mord's (q.v.) cunning Hallgerda 
{q.v.) was found to be the thief. 
She and her husband, Gunnar, 
were summoned to court upon the 
lying advice of Skamkell (q.v.), 
Gunnar, however, triumphing. 
But one day, Otkell's spear having 
by mishap made a gash in Gunnar's 
ear, Skamkell noised it abroad 
that Gunnar had wept. This he 
brought about the death of Otkell, 
Skamkell, and their six com- 
panions, who were slain soon 
afterwards, by Gunnar and his 
brother Kolskegg. By Njal's wise 
counsels the matter of these 
slayings was settled to the satis- 
faction of aU. 

OTRANT. In the Charlemagne cycle, 
the pagan King of Nimes. {Vide 
" Charroi de Nimes.") 

OTTER. Son of Hreidmar {q.v.), 
brother to Regin {q.v.) and Fafnir 
{q.v.). He was slain by Loki 
{q.v.), the Scandinavian god of 
evil, who covered his skin with gold 
rings, which his father received 
as blood-money. (FteZe "TheBay 
of the Volsunga.") 

OTUEL, SIR. An EngUsh romance of 
the Charlemagne cycle, probably 
of the thirteenth century. The 
theme is an account of various 
battles fought between the Chris- 
tians and the Saracens. A Saracen 
King, Garsie of Lombardy, was 
determined to extirpate Chris- 
tianity, and as Charlemagne was 
its greatest champion, he sent an 
ambassador to him in the person 
of Sir Otuel. He chose the occa- 
sion of a great festival when 
Charlemagne was surrounded by 
his peers and his great heroes, 
Roland, OHvier, and Ogier. Sir 
Otuel gave his master's message, 
which was that imless Charlemagne 
renounced Christianity, became a 
vassal to him and handed a 



OTU 

portion of his lands to the Saracens, 
he would ravage all France. Sir 
Otuel was very haughty and 
insolent in manner, and made so 
many insulting remarks that he 
roused the indignation of his hearers 
and a knight attacked him, but 
he drew his famous sword Corrouge, 
and after having slain the man, he 
defied the assembly. He challenged 
Roland, and they agreed to meet 
in single combat. After a severe 
encounter, Roland began to have 
a high opinion of his antagonist, 
and thinking how useful he might 
be as an ally, he repeated an ofier 
made by Charlemagne, that if 
Otuel would become a Christian, 
he would be given the king's 
daughter^ the beautiful Behsent, 
in marriage. The king, afraid 
that Roland might be slain, prayed 
earnestly that Otuel might be 
converted, and immediately a 
miracle happened. A white culver 
descended on Otuel, who demanded 
a parley, then promising to forsake 
his gods, said : " To your God ich 
will take." He was baptized next 
day by Archbishop Turpin, married 
Behsent, and Joined the Christian 
army. Then preparations were 
made for an attack upon Garsie 
and a day and place fixed for 
battle. Roland, OHvier, and Ogier 
went out first in search of adven- 
ture, and had an encounter with 
some of the fiercest Saracen 
knights, when Ogier was taken 
prisoner. Then Sir Otuel set out 
and met with King Clarel, whom 
he slew in single combat. After 
this the two armies met, and the 
Saracens were completely defeated. 
Ogier escaped from prison and 
Joined Roland and Ohvier in 
pursuit of the Saracens. King 
Garsie was overtaken by Otuel, 
and brought prisoner to Charle- 
magne, becoming his vassal on 
condition his life was spared. 



OTO 



Shortly after this Charlemagne 
fought against the Saracens under 
Ibrahim, King of Seville, and 
routed them, killing Ibrahim. 
After making a conquest of Spain, 
Charlemagne desired to return to 
France, but insisted first that 
Marsile and Bahgand should 
either be baptized or pay him 
tribute. He chose Ganelon as 
ambassador to them, but the 
Saracen kings bribed him to act 
traitor and lead the French army 
into the defiles of the forest of 
Roncevalles. Ganelon skilfully 
managed so that Roland and his 
friends found themselves in the 
forest, entirely surrounded by 
Saracens in overwhelming num- 
bers. They were all slain except 
Roland, who after finding out 
Marsile and killing him, was too 
severely wounded and too faint 
to do more than sound his ivory 
horn, hoping some friend would 



292 PAL 

hear it. Sir Baldwin and Sir 
Terry found him, and soon after 
he expired. Charlemagne re- 
venged the death of his nephew 
in a battle at Saragossa, when 
Baligand was slain, and Sir Otuel 
re-appeared and slew the King of 
Persia, while Ganelon was hanged. 

ODRY THE GERMAN. ( Vide " Garin 
the Lorrainer.") Nephew of the 
two Eorrainers. He helped them 
in their battles against the 
Bordelais. 



OWEN (1). In Irish romance, son 
of Duracht. He alone obeyed 
Conor's order to slay the sons of 
Usna iq.v.). Fox, one of them, 
carried away Deirdre (q.v.), the 
intended bride of Conor. 

OWEN (2). (Vide " Gododin.") Son 
of Urien. He was a great Oymric 
warrior, who was slain at the 
Battle of Cattreath. 



PALFREY, THE. A French romance, 
probably of the thirteenth century, 
which relates how a brave knight, 
named Messire William, fell in 
love with a fair lady of noble birth, 
who returned his affections. Her 
father objected to the union, on 
account of the knight's poverty. 
The damsel was so well guarded 
that they could only hold converse 
through a breach in the courtyard 
wall. The knight on these occa- 
sions always rode a beautiful grey 
palfrey, which became famiUar 
with the track through the forest. 
This continued for some time, till 
he felt he must have his fate 
decided one way or the other. So 
he went to the lady's father, an 
aged prince, boldly asked his 
daughter in marriage, and was ' 



refused. He, therefore, consulted 
with the maiden, who advised him 
to request his old uncle — a, very 
wealthy man — to intercede with 
her father for him ; and as 
Messire William was his heir, to 
advance him money, which he 
would repay after his marriage. 
The knight complied ; the uncle 
acceded to his wishes, and Messire 
WiUiam rode bhthely away to a 
tournament. During his absence, 
the uncle asked the maiden in 
marriage for himself, and because 
of his wealth, her father agreed. 
When the knight returned, he 
was sorely grieved at the trick 
played on him. The palfrey was 
borrowed for the use of the 
wedding guests, as they had to 
ride some distance to church. A 



PAL 



feast was given in honour of the 
wedding, the lords became heavy 
with wine, and slept soundly. 
The warder being dazed, mistook 
the bright moonlight night for 
early mom, and sounded his horn 
for the cavalcade to make ready. 
The maiden was placed on the 
palfrey and they set forth. The 
guests were so drowsy with sleep 
that they scarcely observed 
where they were going. The pal- 
frey, knowing the way, ambled 
along unattended, till he came to 
the path which led to Messire 
William's house and entered the 
well-known track without any of 
the party missing him. The 
maiden gave him the rein, and 
allowed him to go where he listed. 
After fording a river, he brought 
her straight to his master's castle. 
The warder, recognizing the horse, 
ran and told the knight, who, 
when he beheld the maiden, 
brought her in amid great rejoic- 
ings. The next day they were 
married, and when her father 
heard about it, he decided that it 
was too late to mend matters. 

PALMERIN OF ENGLAND. In ro- 
mance son of an Edward, one of 
the English kings. 

PALMERINDE DE OLIVA. Succeeded 
to the throne of his grandfather, 
King of Constantinople. He won 
the hand of Trineus. The son of 
his daughter who is said to have 
married one of our English Edwards 
became known as Palmerin of 
England (q.v.). 

PALOMIDES, SIR. A noble knight 
of Arthur's Court. He plays an 
important part in Arthurian ro- 
mance. As a warrior he proves 
his prowess in all encounters, 
either in sport or battle. As a 
lover he is somewhat conspicuous 
as paying court to Isond (Ysolde), 
but in this respect he is repeatedly 



293 PAR 

disappointed. He is an enemy on 
that account of Sir Tristram, but 
they possess a deep sense of each 
other's worth. He is a conspicu- 
ous follower after the " questing 
beast." (Vide "Morte d'Arthur.") 
On another occasion he undertakes 
the perilous task of avenging King 
Hermance's [q.v.) assassination, 
overcomes the assassins and re- 
stores the liberty of the Red City. 
He repeatedly displays a love of 
Justice, always fulfflUng his pledges 
In battle, or in sport. He be- 
friends Sir Launcelot, who for a 
time governor of Benwick, advances 
him to the Duchy of Provence. 
{Vide "Morte d'Arthur.") 

PARTHENAY or THE TALE OF MELU- 
SINE. A metrical romance trans- 
lated from the French of Ea 
Condrette before 1500 a.d. The 
French version is superior to the 
English translation, the MS. of 
which is in the Trinity College, 
Cambridge. There is also a copy 
of the romance In prose in the 
British Museum, but it difiers In 
detail from the others. The 
version of the MS. in Trinity 
College is in octosyllabic metre, 
and was undertaken by one named 
La Condrette, a Poitevin, at the 
request of WiUiam, Lord of Par- 
thenay, and continued by him 
after this Wilham's death in 1401 
at the request of his son John of 
Parthenay. The romance resolves 
itself into five parts. 

(i.) The story of King Helmas 
and the Enchanted Mountain. — 
Helmas was King of Albany. He 
married a fairy named Presine, to 
whom he swore that he would 
never see her at the time of 
childbirth. She gives birth to 
three daughters, named Melusine, 
MeUov, and Palestine {vide " Melu- 
sine.") Helmas breaks his vow, 
and his daughters shut him up 



PAR 

in an enchanted mountain until 
death. Presine, angered at her 
children's behaviour, turns Melu- 
sine into a serpent every Saturday. 
MeUov is banished for ever to 
a " Sparrow-hawk Castle " in 
Armenia, and Palestine is directed 
to watch over King Helmas' 
treasures, which are deposited on 
a mountain-top in Arragon. 

(ii.) Count Raymond, who is 
adopted by Amery, the youngest 
son of the Earl of the Forest, 
marries Melusine, who exacts from 
him a promise not to inquire 
whither she goes every Saturday. 
He, however, breaks the vow and 
is forgiven ; but in anger one day 
he calls her a serpent. She im- 
mediately departs in' that form ; 
and afterwards the count is ab- 
solved by the Pope and becomes a 
hermit at Montserrat in Arragon, 
where he dies. 

(iii.) TheThree Sons of Raymond 
and Melusine. — Melusine has ten 
sons in aU, amongst whom three of 
them achieve some object. Geof- 
frey, with the great tooth, succeeds 
his father as Lord of Parthenay, 
and slays the giants Guedon in 
Geurrande and Gremold in North- 
umberland. He also discovers the 
wonders of the enchanted moun- 
tain. Fromont, after committing 
an atrocious deed, becomes a 
monk ; but Geoffrey is displeased 
and bums him aUve. Horrible, 
the third son, is put to death by 
his mother because of his wicked- 
ness. The last two, Raymond and 
Thierry, attain high positions. 
The former becomes Earl of the 
Forest, and the latter succeeds 
Geoffrey as Lord of Parthenay. 

(iv.) The Sparrow-hawk Castle. 
— The lady Mehov is given the 
power of granting a boon to any 
knight who watches the deathless 
sparrow within the castle for three 
nights without sleeping. A king 



294 PAR 

of Armenia succeeds in doing so, 
but on asking her to become his 
wife she slays him. 

(v.) Palestine's Treasures. — 
Palestine guards her father's 
treasures on the top of the moun- 
tain in Arragon, assisted by a 
huge serpent, a great bear and 
innumerable snakes. An English 
knight slays the bear, passes the 
snakes, but is devoured by the 
great serpent. The romance con- 
cludes with many praises of John 
of Parthenay, and with a lament 
for his father's death. 

PARTHOLAN. Son of Sera. With 
his Queen Dalny and several com- 
panions of both sexes, he is sup- 
posed to have been the first man 
to land in Ireland. In Caesar we 
learn that the Celts boasted of 
descent from the God of the Dead, 
in the land of the mystic west. 
ThePartholians fought victoriously 
with the Fomorians {q.v.), but 
were exterminated by a pestUence, 
perishing upon the original plain 
of Ireland. 

PARTINAL. Lord of the Red 
Tower. Nephew of Espinogre and 
slayer of Goon Desert, whom he 
slew disguised as one of Goon 
Desert's {q.v.) knights. Perceval 
vows to avenge the murder, and 
coming to his castle espies a fir 
tree whereon hangs a shield. This 
Perceval casts down, whereon 
Partinal appears and is slain. 
Perceval cuts off his head and 
places it on the highest tower of 
the GraU Castle. 

PARTONOPEUS DE BLOIS. A French 
romance dating from the thirteenth 
century, which has been assigned 
to Denis Piramus. The tale is 
in its essence a variation of the 
legend of Cupid and Psyche. 
Partonopeus is represented as 
having lived in the days of Clovis, 
King of France. He was seized 



PAR 

while hunting in the Ardennes, and 
carried off to a mysterious castle, 
the inhabitants of which were 
invisible. Melior, empress of Con- 
stantinople, came to him at night, 
stipulating that he must not 
attempt to see her for two years 
and a haK. After successfully 
fighting against the Saracens, led 
by Lornegur, King of Denmark, 
he returned to the castle, armed 
with an enchanted lantern which 
broke the spell. His consequent 
misfortunes had a happy termina- 
tion. The tale had a continuation 
giving the adventures of Fursin or 
Anselet, the nephew of Lornegur. 
Partonopeus is generally assumed 
to be one of the Seven against 
Thebes. 

PARZIVAL. A German Grail ro- 
mance adapted from the Conte du 
Graal (q.v.) of Chretien de Troyes 
by Wolfram von Eschenbaeh (q.v.). 
It teUs how Gamuret, the son of 
Gandin, Duke of Anjou, marries, 
during his wanderings in the 
East, the Moorish queen Belacane, 
by whom he has a son called 
Feirifiz. Impelled by his desire 
of returning to the west, Gamuret 
leaves the queen and his son ; he 
returns to France, where, being 
elected Duke of Anjou, he takes 
for his second wife Herzeloide ; 
but shortly afterwards he dies, 
and his second wife gives birth 
to a posthumous son, called Parzi- 
val. Herzeloide, anxious to guard 
her son against all danger, above 
all against those incidental to the 
adventurous life of knights, retires 
with him to a solitude in Soltane. 
Parzival is destined, however, to 
become a model of knighthood. 
Notwithstanding the ignorance in 
which he is kept by his mother, 
the knightly inchnation of the 
youth and his curiosity irresistibly 
manifest themselves, and having 



295 PAR 

one day met with some knights of 
the court of Arthur, he follows 
them, arrives at Nantes, where 
Arthur was residing, and begs to 
be first instructed, and afterwards 
received, as a knight. But Parzi- 
val must instruct himself, and 
gain his spurs in the midst of 
adventures. He sets out, arrives 
at the court of Cundwiramour of 
Pelrapeire, with whom he falls in 
love, and who is eventually to be 
his wife ; he comes afterwards to 
the court of Amfortas, King of the 
Greal, who is iU on account of a 
sin he committed, and whose cure 
will only be effected when his 
successor Parzival, seated with 
him at the banquet of the Greal, 
shall ask • an explanation of the 
wonderful things he beholds. 
Parzival, ignorant of this condition 
imposed on him by his destiny, 
and restrained by too much dis- 
cretion, keeps silence at the ban- 
quet, and leaves the castle of 
Amfortas without inquiring into 
what he has seen. Thus frus- 
trated, unknown to himself, and 
partly by his own fault, of the 
brilhant destiny which awaited 
him, he begins anew to seek 
adventures, until, after many a 
fight, he meets with his friend, 
Gawain, who takes him back to 
the court of Arthur. There 
Cundrie, the witch, the messenger 
of the San Greal, informs him of 
the great wrong of his silence, not 
only to himself, but also to the 
King Amfortas, who is his uncle. 
Parzival, full of grief and regret, 
at once sets out to find again, if 
possible, the castle of Amfortas, 
and repair his fault. At the same 
time his friend Gawain also leaves 
the court of Arthur, and, after 
having fought in many an adven- 
ture, succeeds in freeing ladies im- 
prisoned in the Chastel Merveil by 
the fierce necromancer Klingschor, 



PAR 

the nephew of the celebrated 
magician, Virgil of Naples. As for 
Parzival, after protracted wander- 
ings, he arrives at a hermitage at 
some distance from the castle and 
the temple of San Greal ; the 
hermit's name is Trevrizent, who 
eventually makes himself known 
to him as his maternal uncle. 
Knowing Parzival to be destined 
to become King of the Greal, but 
not yet worthy of this dignity, he 
makes known to him that the 
Greal is only accessible to him who 
is called to it by heavenly grace. 
He recommends him, before ap- 
proaching it, to purify his soul 
from aU sin, and seeing the good 
dispositions of the neophyte, he 
initiates him into its mysteries. 
The Greal, he tells him, is made 
of the lapis exillis, gives its 
servants bodily and spiritual 
nourishment, and communicates 
fresh forces for a week to those 
who see it. Every Good Friday a 
dove from Heaven comes and 
places upon the stone a white 
wafer, which communicates to it 
mysterious virtues. A writing, 
which suddenly appears on the 
vase, always indicates who is 
destined to its service and guard. 
Parzival, thus initiated into the 
mysteries of the Greal, departs to 
prepare himself forhis high destiny. 
He returns to the knight of the 
Round Table, and strives to 
acquire the knightly virtues 
necessary to become a Templar, 
and King of the Greal. At last, 
when he is worthy to reign, 
Cundrie, the witch, again appears 
at the court of King Arthur, and 
announces to him that the writing 
of the Greal has pointed him out 
tobeKingof Montsalvagge. Before 
going to the temple of the Greal, 
Parzival visits his wife Cundwira- 
mour, who has borne him two 
promising sons, Loherangrin and 



296 PAR 

Cardeiz. After this he directs 
his steps towards Montsalvagge, 
the Templpis come out to meet 
him, the banquet of the San 
Greal is celebrated, and the con- 
ditions imposed by destiny being 
fulfilled, Ajnfortas is cured of his 
disease, and transmits the royal 
dignity to his nephew Parzival. 
The new king again meets with 
his brother on his father's side, 
Feirifiz, King of India, who, 
wandering about in search of 
adventures, has chanced to come 
to Montsalvagge. But, being a 
heathen, he was ignorant of the 
sanctity of the place and the 
mystery of the San Greal. Feiri- 
fiz, seeing at Montsalvagge Parzi- 
val's aunt, Urepanse-de-Joie, falls 
in love with her, and, after receiv- 
ing baptism, marries her, though 
the decease of his first wife, 
Secondille, whom he had left in 
the East, is as yet unknown to him. 
The newly-married pair set out 
for their kingdom in India. On 
their way they hear of SecondiUe's 
death. Urepanse-de-Joie gives 
birth to a son, who receives the 
name of Jean-le-prStre, Prester 
John. As for Parzival, he destines 
his son Loherangrin to succeed 
him one day in the kingship of 
the Greal. This young man early 
distinguishes himself in an adven- 
turous expedition which he under- 
takes into the Duchy of Brabant. 
WoKram von Eschenbach ends his 
romance as Guyot had ended his, 
without teUing us what becomes 
of the San Greal. He only seems 
to hint that Prester John wUI 
succeed his cousin Loherangrin, 
and the kingship of the Greal 
continue in the marvellous country 
of India. 

In the romance we have Just 
analyzed, the German poet follows 
exactly the same course as Guyot 
in the corresponding episode of 



PAR 

his poem ; he only adds a few 
details of his own invention, such 
as, for instance, the details regard- 
ing Klingschor the necromancer, 
the history of Prester John, and 
perhaps also the history of Eohe- 
rangrin. 

Khngschor has become the type 
of the necromancer in the German 
poetry of the middle ages, hke 
Merhn with the Bretons, and 
Virgil of Naples with the ItaUans 
and Spaniards. But the Germans 
modified this type in their way, 
after having received it from south 
Italy or Sicily, which was the 
country of Klingschor. For there 
is no doubt that Klingschor origi- 
nally was an historical personage, 
like Merdhin le Gallois in Brittany, 
Virgil of Mantua in Italy, and 
Doctor Faust in Germany. 

As regards the tradition of Pres- 
ter John in Graal romance a fabled 
Pope of Eastern Christendom, it 
is scarcely probable that it was 
known to Guyot. In the twelfth 
century there was in China a great 
Mongol tribe professing Buddhism 
such as it had developed itself in 
Tibet. This religion bore in its 
sacerdotal hierarchy and in some 
religious rites and ceremonies so 
striking a resemblance to Catholic- 
ism, that not only the Nestorian 
Christians dwelling among the 
Mongols, but also the strangers 
who visited Mongolia, mistook 
the Buddha rehgion of Tibet for 
an Oriental Christian religion. 
The temporal and spiritual prince 
of this supposed Christian tribe 
took the half -Chinese, half -Mongol 
title of Oiianh-kohan, literally 
" prince-chief." The Nestorian 
Christians, who spoke the Syriao 
language, rendered this by the 
homonyms louchnan-koMn, mean- 
ing in their language, " John the 
Priest." Such is the origin of the 
tradition that there was in the 



297 PAT 

centre of Asia a Christian Church, 
whose popes bore the title of 
Prester John. This tradition 
spread in Europe towards the end 
of the twelfth century ; it was 
perhaps known to Guyot and 
Chretien de Troyes, but neither of 
them connected it with the history 
of the San Greal. Wolfram von 
Eschenbach, on the contrary, 
availed himself of it in his romance. 
He looked upon the supposed 
Christian Church of Asia as a con- 
tinuation of the priesthood of the 
Greal, which priesthood was, after 
the death of Eoherangrin, trans- 
mitted to his cousin, Prester John. 
This ingenious fiction, which, on 
the whole. Wolfram von Eschen- 
bach only indicated in his romance, 
was afterwards developed by 
Albrecht von Scharfenberg in his 
poem entitled Titurel. 

PARZIVAL AND THE ROUND TABLE. 

A romance, of which a manuscript 
still exists in the library of the 
Vatican, was composed by Nicolas 
Wisse and PhiUp CoUn, goldsmith 
of Strasburg. They dedicated 
it in 1336 to Ulric, Lord of Rappolt- 
stein, in Alsace. These meister- 
sanger chiefly followed the romance 
of the French poet Manessier, the 
continuator of Perceval le Gallois, 
by Chretien de Troyes. They were 
also acquainted with the romances 
of Wolfram and of Albrecht von 
Scharfenberg, and placed their 
ambition more in being complete, 
and relating all kinds of amusing 
anecdotes, than in composing a 
poem faultless in conception and 
poetical execution. 

PATRISE, SIR. A knight of Ireland, 
cousin of Mader de le Porte, the 
unfortunate victim of a poisoning 
tragedy at the court of Arthur. 
{Vide "Penil.") His cousin Mador 
gallantly attempts to avenge his 



PEL 



death, ignorant of the real culprit. 
(FtcZe " Morte d'Arthur.") 

PELEUR. The name in the Queate 
del Saint Graal of the Maimed King 
or Fisher King {q.v.). 

PELLEAS, SIR. Of the Islea, known 
as " the lover." Sometime knight 
to Queen Guinever. He was slain 
by Sir Meliagrance {q.v.) in defend- 
ing his mistress. {Vide " Morte 
d'Arthur.") 

PELLES, KING. Father of Elaine, 
the mother of Galahad {q.v.). He 
is also alluded to in Arthurian 
romance as cousin to Joseph of 
Arimathea {q.v.). He plays an 
indirect part in the quest of the 
Holy Grail. He receives a wound 
from the Grail Sword because of 
his attempt to interfere with it. 
The sword is subsequently chosen 
by Galahad. His most important 
occupation in the holy mission is 
the care of the holy vessel in his 
castle of Corbonec. It was here 
that the missioners caught their 
first glimpse of the Grail, and from 
here the chosen three carried it to 
its resting place. Pelles was per- 
mitted witMn the sacred chamber, 
but there his holy duty ended. 
{Vide " Morte d'Arthur.") 

PELLINORE, KING. In Arthurian 
romance, a monarch who followed 
after the " questing beast." {Vide 
"Morte d'Arthur.") He discovered 
a plot against Arthur and was 
subsequently slain by his son, 
Lamorak. 

PELLOUNCES, SIR. Father to Per- 
sides, and a venerable knight of 
England. The defender of the 
"Round Table." (Fide "Morte 
d'Arthur.") 

PENIL, SIR, LA SAVAGE. Cousin of 
Lamorak de Gahs. At a banquet 
given by Guinever he poisoned 
the apples that he might be 



298 PER 

avenged upon Gawaine, whom he 
hated. Sir Patrise partook of the 
poisonous fruit and immediately 
dropt dead. Th.§ company little 
realize who is the true culprit, 
and accuse their hostess of treason. 
Subsequently, he is exposed by an 
enchantress and is forced to flee for 
safety. ( Vide " Morte d'Arthur.") 



PEPIN, {Vide " Garin the Eor- 
rainer.") Son of Charles Martel 
{q.v.), King of France. He be- 
came king when he was a boy, 
and was ruled by his advisers, 
among whom Count Hardre was 
chief. He was constantly being 
asked for assistance by some of 
the rival families in France. He 
tried to make peace between the 
Lorrainers and the Bordelais on 
several occasions. He married 
Blanchflower, the lovely daughter 
of Thierry {q.v.), King of Savoy 
{q.v.). He had intended to aUow 
Garin the Lorrainer to marry her, 
but when he saw her, he fell in 
love with her himself, and, by the 
advice of the archbishop of Rheims, 
married her. 

PERCEVAL. An important figure 
in Arthurian romance. Only once 
(in the metrical romance of Sir 
Percyvelle) {q.v.) is he alluded to as 
the nephew of Arthur, at whose 
court he does not reside, except 
at intervals. The earliest form 
of the many romances which bear 
his name is found in the Conte dd 
Oraal or Perceval of Chretien of 
Troyes, and his continuators, and 
the Parzival of Wolfram von 
Eschenbach, under which titles an 
account of his adventures and 
career will be found. Both these 
poems are undoubtedly derived 
from the same source, but the 
connection between them is slender. * 
Perceval, brought up in the desert 
by his mother, and gradually 



P&R 



evolving into the flower of knight- 
hood by dint of his love of high 
ideals and natural spirituaUty, is 
the hero of the two epics alluded 
to above. The more sophisticated 
Perceval of the Quest of the Holy 
Grail is by no means so naif, so 
natural. The other notable ro- 
mances in which Perceval figures 
are the Middle English romance of 
. Syr Percyvdle of Galles, the prose 
Pereslavaus or Percival li Gallois, 
and a romance by Robert de 
Borron, which is now only to be 
found in a prose form. He is, of 
course, the hero of the Grail quest 
par excellence, for information on 
which phase of his legend the 
reader is referred to the principal 
and alhed articles on the Grail 
(" Grail, Holy ; " Conte dd Graal ; 
Parzival, etc.). In his Brythonic 
or Welsh form of Peredur ap 
Evrawc, Perceval is the hero of 
the story of that name, which is 
summarised under its title, and 
which appears in the Mabinogion. 
In its Celtic form his legend has no 
connection with the Grail story. 
A chief of his name fell in the 
battle of Cattraeth in the beginning 
of the sixth century, according to 
the bard Aneurin, and he is men- 
tioned by Gruffydd ap Meredydd, 
who flourished about the end of 
the thirteenth century, in his elegy 
on Tudor ap Goronwy. 

PERCEVAL LI GALLOIS. A romance 
of the Grail quest. It is written 
in prose, and was written for a 
certaiu John of Nesle in Flanders, 
who was living in the year 1295. 
Of aU the tales concerning the 
quest for the Holy Grail {q.v.) this 
is the most confused. It declares 
itself to be written by Joseph of 
Arimathea at the bequest of an 
angel, and tells how the good 
knight Perceval is descended 
through his mother from Joseph 



299 PER 

of Arimathea, who kept the lanco 
with which Christ was pierced and 
the holy vessel in which his blood 
was gathered. On his father's 
side Perceval was descended from 
Nicodemus. The Fisher King (vide 
' ' Amf ortas ") was his uncle . In the 
time of his youth he went to the 
Fisher's castle, but does not ask 
of what avail was the Holy Grail, 
hence wars arise, and the king falls 
into sickness. Gawain and Lance- 
lot arrive at the Grail Castle. 
Gawain goes first to that part of 
it called the Castle of Enquiry, 
where the sword that was used to 
behead John the Baptist is pre- 
served, but he does not speak in 
the castle, where he sees the Grail 
and lance. Lancelot cannot see 
the Grail on account of his carnal 
love for Guinevere. The Fisher 
King dies suddenly, and his lands 
are taken by his brother, the King 
of Castle Deadly. Perceval fights 
against him, conquers, and wins 
the Grail Castle. He is visited by 
Arthur, Gawain, and Lancelot. 
Perceval latterly sails away on a 
vessel with a white sail, on which 
is a red hon, and never has man 
learned what became of him. 
This legend, ends the MS., was 
found on the shores of the Moor 
Adventurous, where Arthur and 
Guinevere are buried. 

PERCIVAL, SIR. Son of King Pelli- 
nore {q.v.) and knight of the 
Round Table. He appears in 
Arthurian romance as a man of 
high chivalry and purity of hfe. 
He is destined along with Galahad 
(q.v.) to accomplish the Holy Grail. 
This high honour is accorded to 
but few, and as one of the privi- 
leged he acquits his duty nobly and 
well. With Bors and Galahad he 
patiently and resolutely makes his 
way through the intricacies of the 
quest. Arriving at their mission's 



PER 



300 



end, he willingly, after seeing 
Galahad's ascension, submits him- 
self to the same honour, realising 
that he had done the duty for the 
purpose of which he was bom. 
(F»(^e"Morted'ATthur.") 

PERCYVELLE, SIR. An English 
metrical romance found in the 
Thornton MS., written shortly 
before the middle of the fifteenth 
century. It teUs how Percyvelle's 
parents were Percyvelle and Ache- 
flour (Arthur's sister). His father 
was noted for overcoming the 
Red Knight in a tournament, but 
was ultimately slain by him. His 
mother thereupon betakes herself 
to the woods with the young boy, 
where he receives httle instruction 
save that of great mother Nature 
herself until the time of his reaching 
his fifteenth birthday, when his 
natural mother teaches him how 
to invoke the great Author of his 
surroundings . Shortly afterwards , 
he meets with three knights of the 
court of Arthur — yclept Ewayne, 
Gawayne, and Kay, whom — his 
mind filled with mysteries — ^he 
mistakes for supernatural beings. 
Persuaded, however, that they are 
but true and puissant knights of 
the Round Table, he resolves to go 
to Arthur's court himself and win 
his spurs. He catches a wild 
horse, and, returning to his mother, 
announces his intention. She 
advises him to be always courteous 
and respectful in his demeanour 
to knights when he meets them, 
and on his finally taking leave 
presents him with her ring as a 
token. He sets out and at length 
wearied by the journey, he revives 
his drooping spirits with meat and 
drink at a wayside house. Dis- 
covering a fair damoselle asleep, 
he exchanges his mother's ring for 
that of the lady's. Arriving at 
Arthur's court he rides straight 



PER 

up to the king and peremptorily 
demands knighthood, threatening 
death if refused. Arthur notices 
the resemblance to his father in the 
young man's countenance, and 
recalb the prophecies that he should 
avenge his father's untimely end. 
Percyvelle exhibits disquietude 
and reiterates his demand for 
knighthood. Whilst the assembled 
guests are regaling themselves at 
the banquet, the Red Knight 
enters the hall, and for the fifth 
time in as many years seizes and 
carries off Arthur's cup, none 
daring to bar his progress. There- 
upon, Percyvelle, grieved at the 
king's discomfiture and lamenta- 
tions, undertakes the quest of 
kiUing the Red Knight and re- 
covering the cup, if the boon of 
knighthood be but granted him. 
The king acquiesces and Percyvelle 
immediately follows hard upon 
the tracks of the purloiner, who 
derides him, but he is woimded to 
death by an unerring dart. He 
rides up and secures the Red 
Knight's horse, and being xmable 
to remove his armour recalls his 
mother's injunction, " out of the 
iron bum the tree," lights a fire 
to consume the corpse. Gawayne, 
who has followed Sir Percyvelle 
closely to be at hand with friendly 
succour, shows him how to unlace 
the armour, and when that is 
accomphshed, Percyvelle casts the 
Red Knight's body into the now 
leaping flames. Bethinking him- 
self now as great as his lord and 
master the king, Percyvelle dis- 
dains to return, but sends the 
cup back by Gawaine, and sets 
out again for the fields and 
pastures of fresh adventures. But 
before proceeding far on his Journey 
he comes upon an old witch — ^the 
mother of the Red Knight as it 
turns out — who invokes him as her 
ofiFspring. He speedily makes 



PER 



short work of the old beldame by 
running her through with his spear, 
and she serves as further fuel for 
the glo'wing embers of her son's 
death pyre. He next comes upon 
ten knights, who, mistaking him 
for the all-dreaded Red iSught, 
are about to fly, when haUing them 
and raising his vizor, he reassures 
them. The oldest of the knights 
then recounts how the Red Knight 
— since fifteen years agone when he 
had done his brother to death — 
bore him and his sons bitter 
hatred. Hearing, however, that 
Percyvelle had vanquished this 
bane of their existence, he invites 
him to his castle. But "adven- 
tures are to the adventurous " 5 
scarcely were they seated at a 
generous repast than a messenger 
comes in from the Maiden-land, 
begging help for the Eady Eufa- 
mour against a " Sowdane " who 
would feign wed her. Percyvelle 
sets out with three of the old 
knight's sons, whom, however, he 
sends back one after the other 
at the end of each of the first 
three miles . Meantime, the king 
at Carebedd, lamenting for Percy- 
velle, also receives a message from 
Eufamour and gleans from it 
tidings of Percyvelle, and there- 
upon sets out with his court to 
follow him. On Percyvelle reach- 
ing the Sowdane 's camp he is set 
upon by the guard, but he kills 
them all and then betakes himself 
to slumber beneath the castle 
wall. At dawn Lufamour's hench- 
men inform her of the disaster to 
her enemies. She perceives Percy- 
velle and bids her chamberlain, 
Hatlayne, fetch him to her cham- 
ber. Whilst seated together news 
is brought that the enemy has 
nearly succeeded in capturing the 
town. Percyvelle attacks them 
at once single-handed and spares 
none. He then reconnoitres four 



301 PER 

knights — Arthur, Ewayne, Ga- 
wayne, and Kay. He pricks 
against them, and Gawayne re- 
ceives ]the onslaught. They soon 
recognize each other and they all 
proceed to Lufamour's castle. The 
following day, the Sowdane chal- 
lenges all comers ; Percyvelle, now 
dubbed knight by Arthur, slays 
him, and thereafter weds Lufa- 
mour. At the end of a year he 
recalls his mother's loneliness, and 
sets out to find her. Hearing a 
maiden bewailing her fate in a 
wood hard by, he discovers her 
tethered to a tree, and learns that 
a year before, while sleeping, a 
stranger had despoiled her of her 
ring, leaving his in exchange. 
Now her ring was of a stone of 
such virtue that neither death nor 
hurt could come to the wearer 
thereof. He unfastens her thongs, 
defeats the Black Knight who had 
bound her, reconciles them, and 
claims his own ring for the ring he 
had taken. But the Black Knight 
had given it to the lord of the 
land — a giant. Percyvelle kills 
the giant, and obtains the ring 
from the seneschal. The latter 
relates to him how his master, 
loving a fair lady, had proffered 
her that same ring, but she, 
accusing him of kilHng her son, 
hid herself in the forest and 
became bereft of her wits. Percy- 
velle assumes the skin of a goat, 
and after searching for her for 
nine days discovers her. A magic 
potion of the giant throws her 
into a three days' trance, after 
which, clothed and in her right 
mind, she returns home with her 
son. Percyvelle ultimately goes 
to the Holy Eand, and there at 
length death overtakes the hero. 



PEREDUR, THE SON OF EVRAWC. 

A Welsh romance included in the 
fourteenth century Welsh MS., 



PER 



302 



PET 



known as The Red Book 0/ Hergest. 
The first portion of the tale agrees 
very much with that of Chretien 
(the Confe del Graal) (q.v.) in its 
sequence and the character of 
its circumstances. But there is a 
notable difference in the incident 
which deals with what takes place 
at the castle of the Fisher King. 
{Vide "Grail," " Conte del Graal," 
and other Grail articles.) First 
Peredur beholds a lance which 
drips with blood, then a charger 
in which a man's head is swimming 
in gore. Neither of these things 
answer to what he has heard of 
the Holy Grail. After its descrip- 
tion of this enterprise the Welsh 
version, whilst corresponding 
generally with Chretien, has some 
especial features. Peredur guards 
from injury a certain castle against 
the sorceries of the enchantresses 
of Gloucester, one of whom hails 
him as their destined conqueror. 
He learns from these enchantresses 
the use of arms and the knowledge 
of chivalry. A considerable por- 
tion of the romance, nearly one- 
third in fact, answers to nothing 
in Chretien's work or any French 
version in existence. In the latter 
portion, after the coming of the 
ungainly damsel, the Welsh ver- 
sion, whilst offering in great 
measure the same sequence of 
circumstances as in Chretien's and 
Gautier's poems, recounts them 
in a far more coherent manner. 
The romance concludes with the 
advent of a youth who discovers 
himself as the cousin of Peredur. 
He it was who had borne the head 
on the charger swimming with 
blood, and had taken upon himself 
the guise of the ungainly damsel 
who urged Peredur to continue 
his quest for the Grail. His object 
in bearing the bloody head in the 
charger and aiding and inciting 
Peredur in many adventures was 



to avenge the death of his mur- 
dered cousin (whose head he bore 
in the charger) upon the enchant- 
resses of Gloucester and the laming 
of the Fisher King. The Welsh 
tale is thus in a large measure a 
logical and straightforward version 
of a hero's vengeance upon super- 
natural beings for the injuries 
inflicted by them upon his kindred. 
. . . Had we the story in a purer form 
we should find that the injury, so 
far as he is concerned, consists in 
the enchantment of hideous and 
unsexing disguise, an enchantment 
from which the consummation of 
the vengeance can alone free him. 
The object of the talismans is 
here to remind the hero of the 
wrong done and to supply the 
necessary weapon." Peredur is a 
vengeance tale pure and simple. 

PERIGON. (Fit^e" Sir Otuel.") King 
of Persia. Killed by Sir Otuel at 
the Battle of Sarragossa. 

PERSANT, SIR. Brother to Sir Grina- 
more, a knight of the Round 
Table. He was amongst the slain 
in the defence of Guinever against 
Sir Meliagrance (c[.v.). {Vide 
" Morte d'Arthur.") 

PERSE, PRINCE. ( Vide " Florice and 
Blanchfleur.") A noble heir to 
rich domains in Italy. He was 
married to Topase, and while 
journeying to the Holy Land, was 
slain by Felix {q.v.). 

PERSIDES SIR. Son of a worthy 
knight. Sir Pellounces. He was a 
friend of Tristram {q.v.), and dis- 
played conspicuous prowess in 
battle. ( Vide " Morte d'Arthur.") 

PETIPASE, SIR. Of Winchelsea, a 
frequent visitor to the court of 
Arthur. {Vide " Morte d'Arthur.") 

PETRONE. Mentioned in the Gfrand 
St. Oraal as a holy man and kins- 
man of Joseph of Arimathea. He 



PET 



christened the daughter of King 
Label. 

PETRUS. One of the figures intro- 
duced in a casual way at the 
table emblematical of the Last 
Supper in the Legend of the Holy 
Grail. 

PHILOSOFINE. Alluded to in Ger- 
bert's continuation of the Gonte 
del Qraal as the mother of Perceval. 
She came to Britain with Joseph 
of Arimathea and bore the Grail 
plate as distinct from the dish 
itself. 

PILGRIN BISHOP. Filled the see of 
Passanform 971 to 991, and took 
a great share in the conversion of 
the Hungarians to Christianity. 
He is mentioned in Die Klage as 
having had the Nibelungenlied story 
" set down in Latin letters that 
men might deem it true." M. 
Am6d6e Thierry has suggested 
that the Eddie version of the 
Nibelung story in which Attila is 
still the ferocious monarch of 
history may have been touched 
up and moralized by Bishop Pilgrin 
for the Hungarians, whose national 
hero Attila was, so as to soften all 
the harsher features of his charac- 
ter. But no Hungarian version 
of the Nibelungenlied has been 
preserved, and the Hungarian 
chronicle sensibly depart from the 
Nibelung account of Attila or 
Etzel. 

PITE^ SIR BRUESE LAUNCE. A felon 
knight mentioned repeatedly in 
Arthurian romance as a robber 
and seducer of women. (Vide 
" Morte d'Arthur.") 

PLAINE DE FORCE, SIR; PLAINE 
D'AMODR, SIR; and PLENO- 
RIUS, SIR. The three brothers 
who assail La C6te Male-tail6 
(q.v.) in his errand of succour to 
Dame Lyonese (g'.».). They are 



303 POL 

subdued and made to pay homage 
to King Arthur., (Vide "Moxte 
d'Arthur.") 

POLITIANO, ANGELO (POLITIAN). 

A celebrated Italian poet, who was 
born at Monte Pulciano on July 
24th, 1454. He early exhibited ex- 
traordinary epigrammatic powers, 
and upon the publication of a poem 
on a tournament in which Julian 
de' Medici was the victor, in 1468, 
he was received by Lorenzo de' 
Medici into his palace, became his 
confident, and afterwards tutor 
to his children. The tournament 
poem commences almost in epic 
style, and bears every mark of the 
spacious thought of the age in 
which it was composed. But he 
had by no means made choice of a 
suitable hero, and soon abandoned 
the work. The technique and 
spirit of his verse are equal to 
those of Tasso or Ariosto. He 
represents Juhan in the flower of 
his youth, devoted to arms, and 
despising love. He draws the 
youth surrounding him to the 
chase. But Bove has his revenge 
by drawing him from the hunt by 
means of a beautiful white hind, 
which changes after a stem chase 
into a beautiful maiden, Simonetta. 
Julian becomes deeply enamoured 
of her, and Cupid, proud of his 
victory, flies to his mother in the 
Isle of Cyprus, and boasts of his 
success. The description of Venus' 
palace served as a model to Ariosto 
and Tasso for the enchanted domes 
of Alcina and Armida. In the 
second book, Simonetta, arrayed 
in the armour of Pallas, appears 
to Juhan in a dream, and reminds 
him that only by valour can she 
be won. Juhan awakens amidst 
the aspirations of glory and of 
love. Here Politiano relinquishes 
the work. Politiano revived on 
the modem stage the tragedies of 



POR 



the ancients, and created a new 
species of pastoral tragedy. His 
Favola di Orfeo was performed at 
Mantua in 1483. It was com- 
posed in two days. Later in life 
he abandoned poetry for philo- 
sophy. Had he elected to culti- 
vate his real talents instead of 
entering a domain for which he 
was almost totally unfitted, he 
would undoubtedly have risen to 
a height of fame equal to that of 
the greatest names in Italian 
literature. 

PORTUGAL, KING OF. ( Vide " Florice 
and Blanchfleur.") An ally of 
the King of GaUcia, who fought 
against Fehx (q.v.) to obtain 
freedom from his oppression. 

PRESTER JOHN. In Grail romance 
a fabled pope of Eastern Christen- 
dom. As regards his tradition, 
it is scarcely probable that it was 
known to Guyot {q.v.). In the 
twelfth century there was in 
China a great Mongol tribe pro- 
fessing Buddhism such as it had 
developed itself in Tibet. This 
rehgion bore in its sacerdotal 
hierarchy and in some religious 
rites and ceremonies so striking 
a resemblance to CathoUcism, that 
not only the Nestorian Christians 
dwelUng among the Mongols, but 
also the strangers who visited 
Mongolia, mistook the Buddha 
rehgion of Tibet for an Oriental 
Christian religion. The temporal 
and spiritual prince of this sup- 
posed Christian folk took the half- 
Chinese, half -Mongol title of Owanh- 
kohan, Hterally prince-chief. The 
Nestorian Christians, who spoke 
the Syriac language, rendered this 
by the homonyms louchnan-kohan, 
meaning, in their language, John 
the Priest. Such is the origin of 
the tradition that there was in 
the centre of Asia a Christian 
Church, whose popes bore the 



304 PRI 

title of Prester John. This tradi- 
tion spread in Europe towards 
the end of the twelfth century ; 
it was perhaps known to Guyot 
and Chretien de Troyes, but 
neither of them connected it with 
the history of the San Graal. 
Wolfram von Eschenbach, on the 
contrary, availed himself of it in 
his romance. He looked upon the 
supposed Christian Church of Asia 
as a continuation of the priesthood 
of the Grail, which priesthood 
was, after the death of Loheran- 
grin, transmitted to his cousin, 
Prester John. This ingenious 
fiction, which, on the whole. 
Wolfram von Eschenbach only 
indicated in his romance, was 
afterwards developed by Albrecht 
von Scharfenberg in his poem of 
Titurel. 

PRIADAM THE BLACK. A knight 
who oppresses the lady of a castle 
whose cause is championed by 
Bors {q.v.). Bors overcomes Pria- 
dam and reinstates the lady in 
her possessions. 

PRIMAUS. ( Vide " Morte d'Arthur.") 
Formerly a Saracen leader, he was 
converted to Christianity by King 
Arthur, who defeated him, after 
which he became a knight of the 
Round Table. 



PRINSAMOUR, SIR. A count of 
Artois and father of Crystabell 
{q.v.), a notable character in the 
romance of Sir Eglamour of Artoys 
{q.v.). He displayed much hosti- 
lity toward Sir Eglamour {q.v.) 
who desired his daughter ; but to 
prove the latter's prowess he sent 
him on three adventures, which 
were accomphshed. He banished 
his daughter after discovering her 
dishonour, and subsequently met 
his death by falhng from a tower. 

PRISE D 'ORANGE. (The taking of 
Orange.) A romance of the 



PRI 



305 



William of Orange sub-cycle of 
the Charlemagne saga. It was 
probably composed in the first 
quarter of the eleventh century, 
but modernized after 1076, and 
forms in its present shape the most 
modem branch of the sub-cycle. 
(Vide "WiUiam of Orange.") It 
tells how WiUiam of Orange waking 
in the palace of Otrant " the 
cursed," the Saracen king whom 
he has conquered, complains to 
Bertram, his nephew, of the quiet- 
ness of the times, and of how the 
Saracens and Slavons " let us 
sleep and rest so much." A 
knight who has been a prisoner 
of the Saracens for many years 
arrives at Nimes, and tells Wilham 
how great a town and fortress is 
the Saracen city of Orange. 
WiUiam hearkening, covets the 
city, and swears a mighty oath 
that he wiU behold it. He sum- 
mons Gilbert, the knight who has 
just regained his freedom, to 
accompany him thither, as he 
knows the language. But Gilbert 
tries to dissuade the fiery chief 
from his purpose, as does Bertram. 
WilUam, however, wiU not be 
gainsaid, and they prepare to 
start on their journey. They dis- 
guise themselves as Saracens, and, 
having arrived at the gates of 
Orange, they declare themselves 
to be pilgrims come from Africa. 
WiUiam interviews the king, who 
teUs him that had he " Short- 
nose " (William's nickname) in his 
power he would torture him, and 
cast his bones to the wind. They 
are conducted to the tower of 
Glorietta, where they admire the 
marble piUars and waUs, the 
windows carved in silver, and 
Lady Orable, the Queen, who is 
dressed in scarlet cloth and is 
fanned by the Eady Rosianna with 
a silver fan. WiUiam trembles 
with love at sight of her, and tells 



PRI 

her that WiUiam Short-nose has 
sworn to come to the city and 
destroy it. But Salatr6, a Saracen 
recently escaped from William's 
city of Nimes, recognizes him and 
his companions GuieUn and Gil- 
bert, and makes him uncover hia 
face by means of a blow. Aragon, 
the king, tells him that he will 
slay him and scatter his dust 
through the mountains, but 
WiUiam brains Salatr6, and the 
three Frenchmen among them slay 
fourteen Saracens. The remainder 
they drive out, and drawing up 
the chains of the drawbridge, 
shut" themselves up in the citadel 
of Glorietta. Orable arms the 
heroes, and they prepare for a 
stout resistance. They make 
great havoc among the Saracens, 
and Aragon offers to let them go 
if they wUl give up Glorietta. 
WiUiam repUes that they never 
mean to leave. A French host 
sets out to succour them. Pharaoh, 
King of Benevent, advises that 
the Christians should be burnt 
out with Greek fire. But an old 
Saracen kadi, Orquenoy, reveals a 
subterranean passage to Aragon, 
by means of which he enters the 
citadel of Glorietta. The French 
make great slaughter, but are 
taken, and Orable begs them as 
her prisoners, in order that they 
may be devoured by snakes. The 
Frenchmen are imprisoned pend- 
ing the arrival of other Saracen 
notables. Orable comes to the 
prisoners, saying that if WilUam 
will have her for his wife she will 
set them free and become a 
Christian. William assents to this, 
and she takes them up to Glorietta 
and tells them of another secret 
passage leading to the Rh6ne. 
They are overheard by a Saracen 
who teUs Aragon, who discovers 
WiUiam and Orable playing chess. 
They are at once imprisoned, and 

X 



PUC 



are again brought before the Pay- 
nim, when William falls upon 
them and does great execution. 
They succeed in shutting them- 
selves up in Glorietta a second 
time, but Bertram, WiUiam's 
nephew, arrives before the city, 
enters it by means of the under- 
ground passage, and takes pos- 
session of it, killing Aragon. Orable 
is baptized under the 'name of 
Guibor, ^nd marries Williapi. For 
thirty years he dwelt in Orange, 
which became his own city. A 
continuation of the romance is the 
Enfance Vivien, which see. 

PUCCI, ANTONIO. A mediaeval 
Italian poet. The dates of his 
birth and death are not definitely 
known, but it would seem that 
he was bom at Florence in the 
middle of the fourteenth century, 
and that the greater part if not 
the whole of his career was spent 
in his native town, where he died 
eventually about 1398. He must 
have been a man of comparatively 
humble origin, for it is recorded 
that he began his career as a beU- 
ringer, and subsequently became 
town-crier ; but it appears that, 
at a later date, he acquired some 
more important post in the service 
of the municipality. An ardent 
admirer of Dante, he early began 
to write verse himself, and even 
from the outset his work was 
characterized by singular care. 
In course of time he won great 
favour in Florence, the pubhc's 
attention being commanded in 
particular by his humorous writ- 
ings, and thereafter he turned his 
attention to doing a series of 
martial tales which he called 
Sirventes. These songs might be 
either martial or pohtical ; while 
he also wrote a number of poems 
based on popular legendary lore, 
sahent among his works of this 



306 PUL 

order being Beine d'Oriente, Appo- 
lonio di Tivo, and Bd Gherardino. 
Another notable work from his pen 
is II Gentiloquio, which is a metrical 
version of the chronicle of Giovanni 
Villani ; while in addition he 
wrote La Guerra di Pisa, the 
subject of this last being the war 
waged between the Florentines 
and the Pisans from 1362 to 1365. 
Pucci is generally regarded as 
the supreme humorist of medisBval 
Italy, while as an heroic poet he 
Ukewise holds a tolerably high 
place. His Gentiloquio is con- 
tained in Delizie Degli. 



PULCI, LUIGI. A Florentine, the 
youngest of three brothers, all 
poets ; he was bom in 1431. He 
composed and read at the table of 
Lorenzo de Medici his Morgante 
Maggiore, a chivalric romance in 
verse in the form which became 
pecuhar to the epic poetry of 
Italy, and forecasted the metre 
employed by Ariosto. The poem 
was pubUshed in 1485, and is 
alternately vulgar or burlesque, 
serious or insipid, or else rehgious. 
The principal characters of the 
romance are the same which first 
appeared in the fabulous chronicle 
of Turpin in the thirteenth cen- 
tury. His real hero is Orlando 
rather than Morgante. We are 
introduced to the paladin of 
Charlemagne at the point when 
the intrigues of Ganelon de May- 
ence compel him to flee the em- 
peror's court. (Vide "Song of 
Roland.") Orlando encounters 
three giants, two of whom he 
slays, and makes the third, Mor- 
gante, prisoner. Him he converts 
and baptizes, and paladin and 
giant become brothers in arms. 
The entire romance consists of 
warlike adventures, and quite a 
secondary position is given to the 
theme of love. This is the less 



PWY 



307 



regrettable as the constitutional 
coarseness of Pulci was little 
suited to the deUneation of the 
tender passion. The poem termi- 
nates with the death of Orlando at 
RoncesvaUes, and the punishment 
of Ganelon's treachery. Pulci is 
extolled by the Italian critics for 
the purity of his style, which for 
the most part consisted in fidelity 
to the Tuscan dialect, but there is 
much music in his metres, and 
some native splendour of diction. 
He died in 1487. 

PWYLL, PRINCE OF DYFED. A 

Welsh romance included by Lady 
Charlotte Guest in The Mabino- 
gion, and drawn from a fourteenth- 
century MS. known as the Red 
Book of Hergest. It recounts how 
Pwyll, Prince of Dyfed in Wales, 
was one day hunting when he en- 
countered a pack of supernatural 
hounds, engaged in pulling down 
a deer. He drove them from the 
quarry, when he was confronted 
by their master, who rebuked him. 
Pwyll offered to make amends for 
the deed, and the stranger, who is 
Arawn, King of Annwn (Hades), 
accepts his offer, and asks him to 
exchange kingdoms for a space, as 
he is sore pressed by an adversary, 
Hafgan. Pwyll undertakes the 
rule of Annwn, and defeats Haf- 
gan. During his stay in the 
Otherworld, he sleeps nightly with 
Arawn's wife, who, as he had 
taken upon him her husband's 
shape, did not guess of the change, 
but refrains from making advances 
to her. Having ended his labours 
in Annwn, Pwyll returns to earth 
to find that Arawn on his part has 
governed Dyfed well, and the 
monarchs once more resume their 
proper shapes and dwell thence- 
forth in fast friendship. Shortly 
after Pwyll, sitting on the en- 
chanted mound of Arberth, espies 



PWY 

Rhiannon, daughter of Hevydd 
I Hen, to whom he gives cljase. 
Going to her father's palace, Pwyll 
is asked by a certain Gwawl to 
grant him a boon, and upon his 
promising anything in his power, 
the youth requests Rhiannon as 
his bride. Rhiannon asks him to 
return in a year. To this he 
assents and duly returns. As 
they make merry a beggar enters 
the haU carrying a bag. He craves 
Gwawl to grant him sufficient food 
to fill the bag. Gwawl assents. 
The bag holds everything on the 
table, and Gwawl protesting, is 
told that he must enter it himself 
to declare that enough has been 
put therein. He does so, and is at 
once tied into it. The followers of 
Pwyll rush in, and on being told 
that the bag contains a badger, 
kick it violently. Gwawl offers to 
abandon Rhiannon if released, so is 
permitted to go with his men. 
Pwyll then weds Rhiaimon. A 
son is bom to them. He dis- 
appears, and the nurses in their 
terror place the bones of a cub in 
the bed, and declare that Rhiannon 
has devoured her child. In pen- 
ance she is forced to stand at the 
castle gate, and carry strangers in 
on her back. A certain Teimyon, 
fearing the theft of a new-foaled 
colt, is sitting up with it when a 
great arm reaches into the stable 
to seize it. He cuts it off. There 
is an outcry, and he finds an infant 
lying outside the stable door. 
Teimyon notices his resemblance to 
Pwyll, who recognizes him as his 
son Pryderi (Trouble), and Rhian- 
non's misfortunes are brought to a 
close. Considerable mythological 
degradation is shown in this tale. 
Annwn, the Otherworld, was in 
the older Celtic tales a distant and 
shadowy realm oversea. But here 
it is obviously a mundane region, 
seemingly bordering upon Dyfed. 



FYS 



The portion of the story which 
refers to the struggle for Rhiannon 
between Pwyll and Gwawl may be 
explained by regarding Rhiannon 
as the moon for which the Night 
(Pwyll) and the Sun (Gwawl) 
strive, the solar hero being trapped 
in the bag of Night, and released 
again. 

PYSTIL OF SWETE SUSAN, THE. A 
Scottish poem of the fourteenth 
century. It is almost certainly 
from the pen of Huchown of the 
Awle Ryle (q.v.), for Andrew of 
Wynton, in his enthusiastic eulogy 
of that writer contained in The 
Originate Gronyhil of Scotland, 
names among Huchown's works 
" The pystal ala off Swete Susan." 

It is concerned with the famiUar 
story of Susannah and the elders 
recounted in the Apocrypha ; and 
it is written in stanzas of thirteen 
lines each, very intricately rhymed, 
and embodying the usual large 



308 QUE 

quota of alUteration. Despite this 
elaborate manner, the verses 
mostly have the semblance of 
complete spontaneity, while at 
times they are marked by rare 
happiness of phraseology and 
beauty of cadence. Indeed the 
poem must be ranked as one of 
the best things in early Scottish 
literature. 

Among ancient manuscript 
copies of The Pystil of Swete Stisan, 
the most important are one in the 
Bodleian Library and one in the 
Cotton Library. The farmer, 
known from its donor's name as 
the Vernon manuscript, appears 
from the nature of the hand- 
writing to date from about the end 
of the fourteenth century, while 
the Cotton version was probably 
written by a scribe of a somewhat 
later period. This document is 
shorter than the other by several 
stanzas, while otherwise the two 
disclose sundry variations. 



QUELGNY, THE CATTLE RAID OF. 

The greatest of Celtic legendary 
tales. {Vide "MeieY.") Finn Mac 
Gorman, Bishop of Kildare, in the 
year 1150 included this tale in the 
Book of Leinster, of which tradition 
regards Fergus Mac Roy {q.v.) as 
the original writer. He was said 
to have written it in Ogham 
characters on staves of wood 
which a bard carried to Italy. 
There are many legends dealing 
with the recovery of this poem : 
one telhng how it was regained 
from Fergus. 

QUETE DEL ST. GRAAL. This 
romance, the author of which is 
luiknown, recounts the adventures 
of Sir Lancelot's son, Galahad, 



who comes to Arthur's court to 
achieve the adventure of the Siege 
Perilous and the sword driven into 
the block. It also recounts the 
coming of the Holy Grail, a vessel 
which fills every one who sees it 
with such sustenance as he longs 
for, and of Sir Gawain's vow that 
he wiU seek it for a year and a day. 
The other knights of the Round 
Table express a desire to go with 
him on the quest. The adventures 
which happen to Galahad and the 
other seekers are much the same as 
prophesied in the Grand St. Graal, 
and tell of unholy love and the 
virtues of Galahad. Lancelot 
discovers a maimed knight in 
quest of the Holy Grail. It is 
observed, but Lancelot refuses to 



QUE 



309 



speak when he beholds it, for which 
afterwards much unhappiness is 
his lot. Sir Percival discovers 
that Mordrains, a character origi- 
nally connected with the Grail, is 
still aUve, having eaten nothing 
but the Lord's body for the term 
of 400 years, and waiting the 
arrival of a good knight. Eancelot 
goes to a castle called Corbenic, 
where he lies unconscious for many 
days as he has approached too 
closely to the Grail. Galahad, 
Percival and Bors at last come to 
the castle, where they are met by 
nine other knights. Josephes, 
son of Joseph of Arimathea, who 
first possessed the Grail, appears, 
and celebrates the sacrament for 
them aU. Christ comes to Gala- 



RAL 

had, and tells him to go to Sarras, 
whither the Grail is going, as 
Britain is unworthy of it. But 
first he must heal the maimed king. 
( Vide " Grail.") The trio then em- 
bark on a ship, and are thrown into 
prison, but are miraculously fed by 
the Grail. A last appearance pre- 
cedes the death of Galahad, who is 
soon followed in death by Percival. 
Bors then returns to Britain, and 
recounts the adventures of the 
seekers for the Grail, which were 
set forth on parchment and kept 
in SaUsbury Abbey, whence Walter 
Map {q.v.) perhaps drew the 
materials for the book as we 
possess it. (Vide "Grail," and 
" Conte del Graal.") 



RABENSCHLACT. ( Fi<fe " Dietrich of 
Bern.") 

RAFN THE SKALD. {Vide " Gunn- 
lang Saga.") Son of Gnund ; 
lover of Helga. 

RALPH THE COLLIER. The only 
Scottish romance connected with 
the Charlemagne cycle. At one 
time it was so popular as to be 
specially mentioned by the Scot- 
tish poet Dunbar, yet for about 
seventy years it was supposed to 
be lost, but in 1821 a copy was 
discovered in a volume of tracts 
in the Advocates' Eibrary in Edin- 
burgh. It dates from about the 
beginning of the fifteenth century, 
and possesses considerable poetical 
merit, while the characters are 
well outHned. Dr. Irving sug- 
gested that it might have been 
written by Huchowne {q.v.), and 
its resemblance to his other works 
substantiates this theory. It tells 
how Charlemagne hunting in the 
forest was overtaken by a storm 



of wind and snow, and lost his 
way. Much exhausted, he falls 
in with a collier, and asks shelter 
of him. The man acquiesces, and 
leads him home. The collier 
beckons the king, of whose identity 
he is unaware, to enter first, but 
on the monarch's refusing out of 
poHteness, he takes him by the 
scruff of the neck and forces him 
in. He requests the king to be 
seated at table, but once more 
Charles gives him precedence, and 
the eolher, telling him that he has 
again forgotten his maimers, hits 
him a mighty bufiet on the ear. 
He is, he says, a simple man, but 
all must do in his house as he bids 
them. This is an evil life, thinks 
Charles, and the best policy is to 
give in. Therefore he is silent. 
After an excellent supper, the 
collier relates his poaching experi- 
ences in the royal forests, and asks 
the king about himself. Charles 
says that he lives at court in the 
service of the queen, and that his 



RAL 



name is Wymond of the Wardrobe. 
He invites the colher to court. 
The king rises at daybreak, and 
offers to pay for his lodging, but 
Ralph will not hear of it, and will 
only promise that he will come to 
court with a load of coals. On his 
way to court, Charles meets his 
paladins who have been searching 
for him. They all return to Paris. 
On the next day, Christmas morn- 
ing, Ralph fiUs two creels with 
fresh charcoal and is about to set 
off when his wife attempts to dis- 
suade him. Undeterred by her 
fears, he sets out, and is met by Sir 
Roland, who has been told off to 
look out for him. Roland asks 
him to follow him, but the collier, 
irritated at the knight's peremp- 
tory tone, says that before he does 
so he will know which is the better 
man of the twain. Roland per- 
mits him to pass, but not before 
the gallant man of coal has ex- 
tended a challenge to him for the 
next day. The collier then makes 
his way to the palace, and asks for 
Wymond. As no one knows him, 
he pushes his way into the royal 
haU where the court was assembled 
keeping the Christmas festivals. 
He is' dumfounded at the sight of 
splendour which meets his gaze. 
Catching sight of the king he calls 
out " Yonder is Wymond." The 
king then relates his hunting ad- 
venture to the nobles, and while 
this is being told the collier stands 
trembUng in the certainty of 
destruction. The king ended by 
asking what should be done to the 
man who had acted thus to his 
liege lord. " Hang him," cried 
the courtiers with one accord. 
But Charles in his wisdom refuses 
to do so, and makes the collier a 
knight, bestowing upon him a 
pension of three hundred pounds 
a year, with a retinue of sixty 
squires for his company. Next 



310 RAO 

morning the newly-dubbed knight 
made ready to keep his tryst with 
Sir Roland, when he saw coming 
towards him, riding on a camel, 
the most gigantic knight he had 
ever seen. They encounter, their 
steeds are slain, and they engage 
on foot for an hour, when Rolsmd 
appears, and rushing in between 
the combatants, separates them. 
Sir Ralph's opponent turns out to 
be Magog, a Saracen knight, sent 
by the Cham of Tartary to declare 
war upon France. He has fought 
so bravely that Roland is anxious 
that he should turn Christian, and 
succeeds in converting him. Then 
aU three swear on their swords to 
be fast friends for the rest of their 
lives. Magog is dubbed knight 
under the name of Sir Gawtier, 
and is married to the Duchess of 
Anjou. Sir Ralph is appointed 
Marshal of France, and to mark 
the spot where he found the Mng, 
a hostelry is erected in the name 
of Saint July for sheltering those 
who lose their way or otherwise 
require its protection. 

RANDVER. (Fiie"Volsungs.") Son 
of King Jormunrek (q.v.). He fell 
in love with Swanhold (q.v.) who 
was betrothed to his father. For 
this both were slain by order of 
Jormunrek. 

RANNVEIG. ( Vide " Burnt Njal.") 
Mother of Gurmar {q.v.). 

RAOUL OF CAMBRAY. A sub-cycle 
of the Charlemagne saga, deahng 
with the history of the lords of 
Vermandois. Raoul, brought up 
at the court of King Louis, has 
his birthright taken from him by 
Gibouin of Mans. Guerry the Red 
solicits Louis to give back to 
Raoul, who is Guerry's nephew, 
the lands of Cambr6sis, which are 
his by right, but the king refuses. 
At length Raoul obtains consent 



RAT 



311 



RAY 



to take the estate of the dead 
Count Herbert of Vermandois. His 
squire Bemier dislikes the task, for 
Count Herbert was his father's 
friend. Raoul cruelly bums the 
town and convent of Vermandois, 
and Bemier's mother is slain. He 
remonstrates with Raoul, is struck, 
and leaves his service . Bemier goes 
to his father Ybert, who marches 
against Raoul. In the battle which 
ensues Raoul is slain by Hemant 
and Bemier. Red Guerry swears 
vengeance, as does young Walter, 
Raoul's nephew. Guerry and Wal- 
ter, after five years' time, attack 
Vermandois. Walter defeats Ber- 
nier. Feud follows feud. At length 
a peace is patched up, and Bemier 
becomes Guerry's man, and marries 
his daughter. But the king lays an 
ambush for the wedding guests, 
and gives Bemier's wife to Erchim- 
bauld of Poitiers as his wife. 
The wedding day is fixed, but as 
the two are to be made one, Ber- 
nier bursts forth from conceal- 
ment with 3000 knights and frees 
his wife. Time passes. Bemier and 
Red Guerry go on a pilgrimage. 
On passing the place where Raoul 
was slain, ancient hate surges up 
in Guerry's soul, and he slays 
Bemier by a felon stroke. Guerry, 
pursued by Bemier's sons, goes into 
exile and becomes a hermit. The 
poem was highly popular, but is 
narrow in subject, and appears to 
have been compiled from more 
than one source, and there are 
several obvious interpolations. Its 
date would seem to be the latter 
end of the twelfth century. It 
possesses great freshness and dra- 
matic power, and may be by th 
same hand as Garin the Lorrainer. 

RATHBONE. ( Vide " Bevis of Hamp- 
ton.") A thief who by using black 
magic stole Arundel, Bevis's horse, 
killed by Saber. 



RAUF COILZEAR. { Vide " Ralph the 
Collier.") 

RAYMOND. A French ecclesiastic 
and chronicler of the eleventh 
century, sometimes styled Ray- 
mond d'Agiles and more often 
Raymond d'Aguilers. He was 
canon of the Church of Buy, and 
he went to Palestine along with 
the first band of crusaders, acting 
as chaplain to the Count of Tou- 
louse. The latter's entourage 
chanced to include a certain 
scholarly soldier, Ponce de Bala- 
zun, and Raymond agreed to 
collaborate with this person in 
writing an account of the expedi- 
tion ; but scarcely had they com- 
menced work ere de Balazun was 
killed, and, accordingly, the ecclesi- 
astic carried out the work single- 
handed. This did not preveni; 
him, however, from taking a singu- 
larly active part in the campaign 5 
and he was present at the capture 
of Jerusalem and the battle of 
Ascalon ; while once, when the 
crusaders were besieged at 
Antioch in 1098, he headed a 
sortie, carrying the sacred lance 
in his hands. Subsequently, it 
appears, he accompanied the Count 
de Toulouse on a pilgrimage to the 
Jordan, but otherwise no informa- 
tion is forthcoming concerning his 
career. Raymond's work, written 
in Eatin, is entitled Historia Fran- 
corum qui ceperunt Hierusalem, 
and it is the more precious because 
he was an eye-witness of nearly all 
the events he described ; while, 
moreover, when he differs from 
other historians he is invariably 
careful to give his reasons for so 
doing. His history is printed in 
Oesta Dei per Francos and in 
Eecueil des Historiens Occidentaux 
des Groisades, while a French trans- 
lation is contained in Guizot's 



RQA 



Memoirea swr I'Hiatoire de France, 

1824. 

REALI DI FRANCIA. The substance 
of the French chansons de Oeste 
(q.v.), dealing with the subject of 
Charlemagne and his peers, was 
very early naturalized in Italy, 
and took shape as a compilation 
called the Reali di Francia, which 
achieved great popularity in me- 
diaeval times, and coloured the 
work of Boiardo, Pulci and Ariosto. 
It was probably compiled by one 
Andrea da Barberius at the be- 
ginning of the fifteenth century. 
The Uterature which it evoked 
was thus almost as extensive and 
important as that which gave it 
birth, and it was more complete, 
inasmuch that it represented the 
Charlemagne legend at every stage, 
historic and fantastical, without a 
gap or omission. The Arthurian 
romances were highly popular in 
Italy, but the Carlovingian chan- 
sons in their native dress must 
have proved even more acceptable 
than they. Judging from their 
comparative influence upon the 
literature of the peninsula. This 
may be observed, for example, in 
the frequent references of Dante 
to the Carlovingian heroes, where- 
as those concerning the Arthurians 
are but few. 

REDBEARD. ( Vide " Grettir Saga.") 
An outlaw sent by Thorir of Garth 
(q.v.) to murder Grettir in his 
loneUness. But Redbeard himself 
met the death intended for his 
victim. 

RED BRANCH. In Ultonian legend 
an order of chivalry in the reign 
of Conor mac Nessa, with its seat 
in Emain Macha. These warriors 
were descended from Ross the Red 
{q.v.), King of Ulster, and from 
collateral relatives and allies. 
Their glory passed away with 



312 REG 

Conor {q.v.) and with Cuchulain 
{q.v.). 

RED GUERRY. A noble who figures 
in the Charlemagne cycle. He is 
first the implacable enemy of 
Bemier {q.v.), the squire of Raoul 
of Cambray, but afterwards gives 
him his daughter in marriage, 
but in the end slays him treacher- 
ously. 

RED HUGH. In Irish romance an 
Ulster Prince, father of Macha 
{q.v.) ; brother of Dithorba of 
Kimbay {q.v.). 

RED KNIGHT, THE (1). Figures in 
Arthurian legend as the knight 
who carries off King Arthur's cup 
while he sat at a banquet at 
Carduel, " none daring to hinder 
him." However, Sir Perceval 
{q.v.) follows after him, slays him 
and assumes his armour with the 
help of Sir Gawaine, who shows 
him how to unlace it. His body 
is cast into a fire kindled by Sir 
Perceval (or Percyvelle) and his 
mother — a witch — also meets with 
the same fate. (2). Of the Red 
Laundes, notable for his treachery. 
He imprisoned Dame Eiones, who 
was afterwards released by Gareth 
{q.v.). {Vide " Morte d'Arthur.") 



REGIN. Son of Hreidmar {q.v.), and 
brother to Otter {q.v.) and Fafnir 
{q.v.). He became tutor to Sigurd 
(q.v.), whom he accompanied on 
many adventures. Sigurd subse- 
quently slew him through the ad- 
vice which he received from the 
birds after the kiUing of Fafnir. 
{Vide " The Lay of the Volsungs.") 

REGNIEH, SIR, {Vide "Sir Otuel.") 
Chamberlain to Charlemagne. He 
was told by the king to take care 
that Sir Otuel was protected from 
any attack while he was acting as 
representative of King Garsie. 



BEI 313 

REIGNIER, Emperor of Germany. 
{Vide " Guy of Warwick.") 

RENAN DE MONTAUBON. {Vide 
" Four Sons of Aymon.") 

RENIER DE GENNES. {Vide "Garin 
de Montglane.") 

RENOUART. In Carlovingian ro- 
mance son of King Desrame, the 
Saracen. In his boyhood he had 
been taken prisoner by the Franks, 
and his enormous size and strength 
recommended him to William of 
Orange when he was merely a 
scullion in the kitchen of Louis le 
Debonair. He performed wonders 
of valour at the battle of Arles- 
chans {q.v.), in which he fought 
against his own kin. For this he 
was granted the hand of the 
Princess Alice, daughter of King 
Louis. He was a great hero with 
the sculUons and kitchen-folk of 
mediaeval times as personifying 
strength, drunkenness and laziness. 
( Vide " Marriage Renouart.") 

RERIR. Son of Sigi {q.v.) and father 
of Volsung {q.v.). He succeeded 
to his father's throne. {Vide "The 
Eay of the Volsungs.") 

REYNALD DE AUBEPINE. {Vide 
" Roland and Ferragus.") A brave 
knight slain by Ferragus in single 
combat. 

REYNARD THE FOX. A satirical 
beast epic of the Middle Ages, 
versions of which appeared in 
French, German, Flemish and 
EngHsh. Much controversy has 
been waged upon the question as 
to whether it was originally written 
in French or German. The first 
poem on the subject is the Beinar- 
dus VuVpea of a Flemish priest, 
Nivardus of Ghent, written about 
1148. Reynard or Reginhard 
means a hardened evil-doer. The 
earliest French version of the 



REY 

satire is lost, but traces of it are 
to be found in the later Roman de 
Renard. It was probably made 
use of by Heinrich der GUchezare, 
an Albatian writer, who wrote the 
first German version, Reinart, 
about 1180. From a French poem 
on the same subject written by a 
priest, Pierre de St. Cloud, in the 
beginning of the thirteenth cen- 
tury, came the Flemish poem of 
Reinhart by Willem. Translations 
and versions multiplied after this. 
Professor Saintsbury thinks that 
" the original language of the epic 
is French, but French of a Wadson 
or Picard dialect, and that it was 
written somewhere between the 
Seine and the Rhine. A number 
of French continuations came into 
being, the chief among which are 
Le Gouronnement Reynard, Renart 
Le Nouvel, Renart Le Contrefait, 
and so forth. 

The purpose of these later 
versions was a satirical one, the 
institution against which their 
shafts of scorn were levelled being 
the church and the nobility. The 
beasts represented but few bestial 
qualities, and are too anthropo- 
morphic to escape detection as 
men thinly disguised. Renard is a 
"baron" of "King Noble" the 
lion, and his chicanery and vulpine 
raiding of hen-roosts appear 
characteristic of the habits of the 
thirteenth century. The ass is 
the Church, and other animals and 
birds represent various persons or 
institutions. 

Caxton's translation was made 
from the low German, probably 
that of Gerard Leen (1479), and 
was printed at Westminster in 
1481. It begins by relating how 
the animals lodged a multitude of 
complaints against Renard with 
Noble, the lion. His Majesty calls 
for vengeance upon the male- 
factor. Bruin, the bear, sent to 



RHI 



apprehend him, comes to mis- 
fortune through Renard's cunning, 
as does Tybert, the cat. Grym- 
bart, the badger, brings Renard to 
law before Noble, and he is ad- 
judged to be hanged. But Renard 
saves himself by telling the king 
of a great treasure which he boasts 
of. Thus escaping, Renard pur- 
sues his old career of rapine. Once 
more the beasts lay their com- 
plaints before Noble. But for the 
second time Renard's crafty 
tongue saves him from a weU- 
deserved doom. Iseugrim, the 
wolf, lodges a complaint against 
Renard for the ravishment of his 
wife. Renard accepts his chal- 
lenge to do battle on a certain day. 
They fight, but when Renard is 
undermost, he so flatters Iseu- 
grim that he releases him forth- 
with, whereupon Renard wounds 
him treacherously. In the event. 
Noble forgives Renard the whole 
of his evil deeds, and creates him 
second to himself in the realm. 

The story of Renard was one of 
the most popular and widespread 
of the Middle Ages. By its means 
satire was popularized, and the 
way laid for reform and the 
gradual breaking down of privilege. 

RHIANNON. (Alluded to in the MaU- 
nogion story of Pivyll, Prince of 
Dyfed.) She was daughter of 
Meyedd Hen, and wife of Pwyll, 
and was nearly lost to him through 
the strategy of Gwawl. (Vide 
"Pwyll.") She is probably the 
representative of an ancient Celtic 
moon-goddess. After the death of 
Pwyll, she was bestowed by her 
son Pryderi upon Manawyddan, 
the son of Llyr, and her subse- 
quent history is detailed in the 
Mabinogion tale that bears his 
name. 

RIBESTEIN. Minister to King Ermen- 
rich {q.v.). He is mentioned in 



314 RIG 

the Saga of bietrich of Bern (q.v.) 
as having attempted in league 
with Sibich {q.v.) to bring Ermen- 
rich to destruction. He easily be- 
came the tool of his colleague, 
with whom he plunged his master's 
empire into war with Dietrich. 



RICHARD. (F»de"SirFerumbras.") 
Duke of Normandy. One of the 
twelve peers sent by Charlemagne 
as a delegate about the liberation 
of his nephews. While prisoner in 
Aigremor, he was deputed to saUy 
out in search of help from Charle- 
magne. He found him and re- 
turned with him to the Bridge of 
Mantribe, which was defended by 
Algolupe. Richard slew the giant, 
and remained in Mantribe with 200 
knights, while Charlemagne pushed 
on to Aigremor. 

RIENCE . In Arthurian romance King 
of North Wales. He was the un- 
compromising foe of Arthur, and 
was at last taken prisoner by Bahn 
and Balan {q.v.) and brought to 
Camelot. 

RIGAUT. {Vide" Garin the Lorrai- 
ner.") Son of Hervi the villein. 
He was a great rough man, but of 
kindly nature and high quahties. 
Bego chose him to fight with 
Fromondin at a tourney, and 
promised him Fromondin's horse. 
He defeated Fromondin and took 
him prisoner. He won the prize 
by his exploits at the tourney, and 
was knighted. He avenged Bego's 
death by ravaging the country 
round Blaives. He refused to 
enter into a truce with the Bor- 
delais and fought against Fre- 
mont, defeating him. He further 
raided Bourges. His grief was so 
great for Bego's death, that when 
told he was buried, he insisted on 
seeing the body, and when it was 
disinterred, he fainted. 



RIN 

RINALDO or RINAUD (1). Oneof the 
four sons of Aymon (g.».)- He 
slew Bertolais, nephew to Charle- 
magne iq.v.), and with his other 
brothers fled the country on his 
faithful steed Bayard. Charle- 
magne sets siege to his castle 
Montauban, Rinaldo making peace 
with Charles and goes on a pil- 
grimage to the Holy Land, subse- 
quently meeting his death at the 
hands of some jealous workmen 
whom he joined in the construc- 
tion of the Cathedral at Cologne. 

RINALDO (2). (Vide "Orlando 
Innamorato " and " Orlando 
Furioso.") Son of Amon, and 
brother to Bradamant. He fought 
with Orlando for Angelica, and, 
inspired by her, performed 
prodigies of valour. He defended 
Geneura against Polinesso who had 
accused her of unchastity, slaying 
her enemy in the duel. 

RING, KING. (Vide "Prithjof Saga.") 
The nuld and gentle old king who 
figures in the Icelandic Saga of 
Frithjof (q.v.). Desiring Ingebjorg 
to wife, he sent messengers to ask 
her from her brothers Helgi and 
Halfdan (q.v.), but the former 
answered them with a sneer. Then 
the king warred upon the sons of 
Bele, conquered them, and married 
their sister. Years later, visited 
by Frithjof, who beUeved he was 
unknown to all in the castle save 
the queen, he tested the faith of 
his guest, and found him true. 
Then he thrust his sword into his 
own breast and renounced his wife 
to her lover. 

ROBERT THE DEVIL. Was the son of 
a Duke and Duchess of Normandy, 
and by the time he was twenty 
was a prodigy of strength, which 
he employed, however, only for 
outrage and crime. At last he 
learnt from his mother, in explana- 



315 ROB 

tion of his wicked impulses, that 
he was bom in answer to prayers 
addressed to the Devil, He was 
directed by the Pope to a hermit, 
who imposed on him by way of 
penance that he should maintain 
absolute silence, feign madness, 
take his food from the mouth of a 
dog, and provoke ill-treatment 
from the common people without 
retaUating. He became court fool 
to the Emperor at Rome, and 
deUvered the city from Saracen 
invasions in three successive years 
in the guise of an unknown knight, 
having each time been bidden to 
fight by a celestial messenger. 
Tbe emperor's dumb daughter re- 
covered speech to declare the 
identity of the court fool with the 
deliverer of the city, but Robert 
refused the hand of the princess 
and the imperial inheritance, and 
ended his days in the hermitage 
of his old Confessor. The French 
romance of Robert le Didble is one 
of the oldest versions of the 
legend, and apparently originated 
from a folk-lore source. 

ROBIN HOOD. Is first mentioned by 
the Scottish historian Fordun, who 
died in 1386. According to Stow, 
he was an outlaw in the reign of 
Richard I. (twelfth century). He 
entertained one hundred " tall 
men," aU good archers, with the 
spoil he won, but " he suffered no 
woman to be oppressed, violated, 
or otherwise molested ; poor men's 
goods he spared, abundantly re- 
lieving them with that which by 
theft he got from abbeys and 
houses of rich carles." He was an 
immense favourite with the com- 
mon people. Stukeley says he was 
Robert Fitzooth, Earl of Hunting- 
don. Robin Hood and Little John 
having had a quarrel, parted com- 
pany. Little John fell into the 
hands of the Sheriff of Nottingham, 



ROC 316 

who bound him to a tree. Mean- 
while, Robin Hood met with Guy of 
Gisbome, who had sworn to slay 
the "bold forester." The two 
bowmen fought, but Guy was 
slain, and Robin Hood rode to the 
tree where Little John was bound. 
The sheriff mistook him for Guy of 
Gisbome, and gave him charge of 
the prisoner. Robin cut the cord, 
handed Guy's bow to Little John, 
and the two soon put to flight the 
sheriff and his men. Robiil Hood 
was put to death treacherously by 
a nun, instigated to the foul deed 
by his kinsman, the Prior of 
Kirklees, Yorkshire, near Halifax. 
The most complete legend con- 
cerning him is preserved in the 
pubUc library of Cambridge, and 
wiU be found in Percy's Eeliquea of 
ancient English poetry. 

ROC. In Ossianic romance a steward 
of Angus Og (q.v.). His son was 
metamorphosed into the Boar of 
Ben Bulben (q.v.). 

ROCHESTER, BISHOP OF. Men- 
tioned in Arthurian romance. To 
end the hostihty between Arthur 
(q.v.) and Lancelot [q.v.), he was 
instructed by the Pope to dehver 
to the belligerents a pair of sacred 
bulls, as a symbol of peace. His 
intercession was successful, and 
Lancelot readily returned Guinever 
iq.v.) to Arthur, thus bringing the 
war to an end. ( Vide " Morte 
d'Arthur.") 

RODGEIER. King of Salem, men- 
tioned in the romance of Samson 
(q.v.). He ruled with wisdom and 
stem Justice, but not for long. 
Samson, who was his knight, re- 
fused the hand of his daughter 
Hildeswid. Despite the refusal, 
the hero carries off Rodgeier's 
daughter. Rodgeier pursues Sam- 
son, at whose hands he is slain. 



ROL 



RODOMONT. (Vide "Orlando Inna- 
morato " and " Orlando Furioso.") 
King of Algiers, made incredible 
slaughter among the Christians. 
He was unhorsed by Bradamant, 
then performed penance for this 
disgrace. At the festival of Ro- 
gero's marriage he challenged the 
bridegroom, and was slain by him. 

ROGERO. (Vide "Orlando Inna- 
morato " and " Orlando Furioso.") 
Son to Rogero of Risa, who 
married Galicella, daughter of 
Agolant. Losing both parents, 
he was brought up by Atlantes, a 
magician. For his bravery in 
battle, Agramant conferred upon 
him the honour of knighthood. 

ROHAND, EARL OF WARWICK. 

Father of Fehce, who wedded Sir 
Guy of Warwick (q.v.). 

ROLAND. Peer of France. A 
famous champion, and nephew of 
Charlemagne. He is regarded as 
the mediaeval beau-ideal of chi- 
valry and personal prowess. His 
early rivalry and subsequent friend- 
ship with Ohver (q.v.) are pro- 
verbial. He commanded the rear- 
guard of the Frankish army leav- 
ing Spain, and with Turpin, Ohver 
and many other peers, was cut off 
by the " Saracens " at Ronce- 
valles. He was betrothed to 
Oliver's sister, Alda. (Vide "Gerard 
of Viana," " Song of Roland," etc.) 

ROLAND AND FERRAGUS or 
VERNAGU. Although this Eng- 
lish romance was written to tell 
the story of Roland and Ferragus, 
it opens with a lengthy description 
of Charlemagne and his enterprise 
in behalf of the Christians against 
the Saracens. The Christians had 
appealed to Constantius, Emperor 
of Constantinople, for help against 
the pagan Emperor, Ibrahim of 



ROL 



Spain. Constantius in a dream 
was advised to appeal to " Charles 
the Conqueror," who consented 
to visit him at Constantinople. 
Nothing important resulted from 
that visit, but some time after- 
wards Charles was impressed by 
seeing a flight of stars appearing 
to settle over Spain, and St. James 
told him in a dream that these 
stars were a sign that he would 
conquer that country, so accord- 
ingly he raised an army and be- 
sieged it. By miraculous aid, he 
totally defeated the Saracens, only 
a few towns offering any resistance. 
At certain great festivals, Charles 
displayed much magnificence, and 
at one of these he received a chal- 
lenge from Ferragus, a general of 
the Soudan of Babylon, to meet 
him in the field at Vasers. Ferra- 
gus was an enormous man. To 
quote the poem, " He had twenty 
men's strength, and forty feet of 
length . . . four feet in the face 
. . . and fifteeninbrede" (breadth). 
After seeing Ferragus, Charles de- 
chned the challenge, but allowed 
Ogier the Dane to accept it. The 
giant made short work with the 
Dane. He unhorsed him, tucked 
him under his arm and carried 
him off to the castle of Vasers. 
Next day, Reynald de Aubepine 
met the same fate, and Ferragus 
jeeringly called to Charles : 

" Sir ! thou wonnest Spain ! 
Hadst thou none better tho' ? " 

On the following day, Sir Con- 
stantino of Rome and Howel of 
Nantes, and two other knights 
were slain by this formidable 
opponent, and then Roland, against 
the king's wishes, determined to 
attack him. When Ferragus saw 
this great champion approaching, 
he exerted aU his strength and 
succeeded in unhorsing Roland 
and putting him before him on his 



317 ROM 

horse's neck, but in his turn 
Roland unhorsed Ferragus, and 
they both fell to the ground. 
They remounted, but each killing 
the other's horse, they had to' 
carry on their combat on foot. 
This lasted till night, without any 
result. Next day, Roland tried a 
knotty oaken club, then they 
threw stones at each other, till the 
giant became very sleepy and 
suggested a nap. Roland agreed, 
but hearing alarming sounds pro- 
ceeding from the giant he thought 
he must be in pain and sought out 
a stone suitable for a pillow and 
placed it under his head. On 
awaking, Ferragus was most grate- 
ful for this kind act, and they 
began to converse most amiably. 
Roland managed to extract the 
information that Ferragus had one 
vulnerable spot. Then they began 
to discuss their different religions, 
and Roland tried to teach his 
quondam enemy some of the 
Christian verities. Tiring of dis- 
cussion, Ferragus said they must 
decide by force, so they again 
Joined battle, which ended in 
victory for Roland. He pierced 
Ferragus with his sword in his one 
vulnerable part and the giant ex- 
pired, calling on Mahomet. 

ROMAIN. (F«e" Roland and Ferra- 
gus.") A knight in the service of 
Charlemagne. He died at Ba- 
yonne, leaving all that he had to 
the poor. His executor appro- 
priated the money, and on the 
release of the knight from purga- 
tory, he appeared to his former 
friend in a dream, threatening 
him with speedy punishment for 
his theft. While the executor was 
relating this vision he was carried 
off by demons and dashed to pieces 
on a rock in Navarre, where his 
body was found afterwards when 
the army passed the place. 



ROM 



ROMAN DE BRUT. A chronicle in 
verse, written by a Norman poet, 
Wace (q.v.). It occupies a sort of 
intermediary position between the 
prose chronicle and the metrical 
romance. It was in some measure 
the forerunner of many of the 
metrical romances on the Arthurian 
subject. But it must not be con- 
founded with the pseudo-histories 
such as that of Geoffrey of Mon- 
mouth, for one excellent reason. 
What Wace set down he wrote in 
good faith, believing in every 
circumstance as a verified fact. 
He even took the trouble to 
journey to the Forest of Broce- 
liande to verify or unmask the 
tales of faery which he had heard 
connected with that place. And 
to those tales he gives a fervent 
denial. Therefore when he writes 
of Arthur, we must take him as 
writing of that he beheves to be 
actual history. He is clear and 
minute in his details, and had a 
remarkable power of visualizing. 
In his pictures and descriptions he 
is as complete and full as Homer. 
Basing his narrative on that of 
Geoffrey, he yet so controlled his 
source as to ehminate manifest 
absurdities, and he moreover in- 
troduced a love-interest, obviously 
to gratify his patronesses. Queen 
Eleanor, who zealously propagated 
in England the chivalric ideals 
then current in her own Southern 
France. Nor does he draw all his 
material from the Historia of 
Geoffrey. Several of the legends 
he adduces are certainly of Celtic 
(probably Breton) origin. He 
does not add much to our know- 
ledge of Arthurian hterature, but 
he smoothed over many ugUnesses 
in the story, and gave it its French 
colouring. In his narrative we 
first encounter Merhn in the semi- 
mythical time of Vortigern. He 
appears as living in several reigns. 



318 ROM 

The tale of how Uther, Arthur's 
father, gained access to the wife 
of Gorlois is dealt with. The vex- 
ing of the Britons by Octa the 
Saxon occupies considerable space. 
When we find Arthur at last there 
is no doubt, as in other chronicles, 
that he is the rightful heir. At the 
time of his coronation he is "a 
damoiseau of fifteen years." His 
wars with the Saxons and the 
people of Scotland and Ireland 
are recounted at length. Wace 
touches on " the marvellous gestes" 
of Arthur's reign with a critical 
ability wonderful for his period. 
" Such rhymes," he says, " are 
neither sheer bare Ues nor gospel 
truths. They should not be con- 
sidered an idiot's tale [good advice 
this, to the critics of the seven- 
teenth 'and eighteenth centuries!] 
or given by inspiration . . . the 
truth stands hid in the trappings 
of a tale. Thus to make a de- 
lectable tune to your ear, history 
goes masking as fable." This is 
the very standpoint of Euhemerus ; 
and might almost have been for- 
mulated by the Miillerian school 
of mythologists ! The conquest of 
Norway by Arthur is next de- 
scribed, as is that of Gaul. Wace's 
description of Arthur's court, if 
more polished and Frenchified 
than that of Geoffrey, is still 
neither so magnificent nor ro- 
mantic. It occupies a consider- 
able space, after which we find the 
Roman campaign dealt with much 
as in Geoffrey and Malory. So 
runs the story to its end, showing 
great similarity to the other 
Arthurian pseudo-chronicles. ( Vide 
" Arthurian Cycle.") 

ROMAN D'ALIXANDRE, An import- 
ant French romance of the twelfth 
century, written in mono-rhymed 
laisses of Alexandrine metre, a 
measure which owes its name to 



ROM 

this poem. In style it closely 
resembles the chanson de gestes. 
It was probably written by two 
authors, Lambert li Tors, and 
Alexander of Bemay or Paris, and 
amounts to over twenty thousand 
lines. It contains both authentic 
and fabulous matter, and has 
counterparts in the Enghsh King 
AUsaunder {q.v.), and in German 
and Icelandic versions. It begins 
with Alexander's childhood. The 
enchanter Nectanabus is not here 
credited, as in some versions, with 
the fatherhood of the hero, but is 
regarded in the Ught of a tutor or 
adviser. Nicolas, King of Csesarea 
(a legendary monarch), insults 
Alexander, and war ensues, which 
ends in his defeat and the gift of 
his kingdom to Ptolemy. Alex- 
9.nder threatens Athens, but is 
dissuaded from her destruction by 
Aristotle. Arriving home, he is 
just in time to prevent the marriage 
of his father with Cleopatra, whom 
he sends back to Egypt. The next 
episode is the war with Darius. 
After many adventures he arrives 
at Tarsus, which he reduces. The 
siege of Tyre follows, and an 
episode which takes up a great 
part of the romance is that of the 
" Foray of Gaza," which is almost 
a complete tale in itself. A visit 
to Jerusalem and two battles of 
Arbela and Issus are speedily 
passed over, as is the murder of 
Darius. Alexander passes the 
desert and visits the bottom of the 
sea in a glass chamber, after which 
he gives battle to Porus, Darius 's 
ally. Here we have a lengthy 
description of some interest of the 
peoples and customs of India 
which furnishes us with a faithful 
idea of how the east appeared to 
the minds of mediaeval folk. Porus 
fights again in Bactria and is 
beaten, after which Alexander 
pursues his alUes Gog and Magog, 



319 ROM 

and shuts them off by his famous 
wall. An armistice is concluded 
with Porus, after which the hero 
travels to the Pillars of Hercules. 
The return to Macedon is begun, 
and marvels thicken. Strange 
beasts attack the Greek army, and 
the troops arrive at the valley 
whence none may return, Alex- 
ander only receiving permission 
for his men to pass through it by 
dooming himself. He is, however, 
assisted to pass it by the aid of a 
friend whom he sets free. Coming 
to the sea, sirens lure many of the 
host to destruction, and the three 
marvellous Fountains of Youth, 
Immortality and Resurrection are 
discovered. They also encounter 
a forest of Maidens or " Flower- 
women." The men who bathe in 
• the Fountain of Youth become as 
men of " thirty years old." They 
then come to the Trees of the Sun 
and Moon, which oracularly foretell 
Alexander's death. Porus hears 
of this, and when the army returns 
to India he picks a quarrel, and 
the two kings engage in combat. 
Bucephalus is slain, but Porus also 
meets his death. Alexander 
marches on Babylon drawn in a 
car to which grif&ns are harnessed. 
Much slaughter takes place there, 
after which the incident of the 
Amazons is treated. Alexander 
returns to Tarsus and Queen 
Candace, and the poem concludes 
with the death of the world- 
conqueror, who is poisoned by 
Anipater and Divinuspater. 

See edition of Michelant, Stutt- 
gart, 1846. 

ROMANCE OF THE ROSE. A French 
poem of the thirteenth century in 
two parts, the first written by 
Guillaume de Lorris about 1337, 
and the second by Jean de Meung 
about 1378. The romance is a 
product of Central France, and 



ROM 



320 



ROM 



approximates closely in spirit to 
the work of the Provencals. It is 
essentially allegorical, and in its 
pages we meet such figures as 
Sloth, Avarice, Anger, and Pride. 
The great English translation was 
partly the work of Chaucer. The 
first portion, consisting of a little 
over four thousand lines, possesses 
an atmosphere of its own, and is 
in touch with the poetical thought 
of the period. The poem opens 
with the description of a dewy 
mom in May. The raconteur is 
strolling past a great park, when 
he beholds carven on its walls 
certain images of Hatred, Felony, 
VUlainy, Avarice, Envy, and so 
forth. These are described at 
length, and despite their unpre- 
possessing characters, the Eover, 
as he is described, fears not to 
enter the enclosure. He is admit- 
ted by Dame Oyseuse (Idleness), 
who teUs him that DeUght and all 
his train haunt the park and its 
environs, and that he has had the 
ugly images made to heighten, not 
to retard, enjoyment. Entering, 
the Lover finds himself in a veri- 
table Eden, and beholds the com- 
panions of Dehght sitting hearken- 
ing to the sweet singing of Dame 
Eyesse (Pleasure), surrounded by 
jongleurs and all manner of enter- 
tainers. Courtesy asks him to 
Join the dance, and he acquiesces. 
There are present the God of Eove, 
his bow-bearer, Sweet-Glances, who 
aims at the Lover, but is interrup- 
ted by some one telhng the tale of 
Narcissus. Meanwhile the Lover 
has espied among the flowers of 
the garden one which he is speci- 
ally attracted to — a Rosebud. 
While he strains to approach it. 
Love aims his arrow at him, and 
strikes him. He yields himself 
prisoner, and Love locks his heart 
with a golden key, gives him a 
homily on the duties of a lover, 



culled from the romances of the 
Table Round, and then vanishes. 
He cannot get at the Rose, and is 
in pain thereat, when there ap- 
pears to him Bel-Acueil, the son 
of Courtesy, through whose good 
offices the Lover has nearly reached 
the object of his desires, when an 
ugly personage named Danger ap- 
proaches, who abuses Bel-Acueil 
for admitting the Lover to the 
Rose, and turns the unfortunate 
swain out of the park. Reason 
appears to the disconsolate lover 
in the garb of an elderly female of 
dignified appearance. She up- 
braids him for having placed him- 
self under the rule of Idleness, and 
thereby having laid himself open 
to the snare of love. She teUa 
him that he has added another 
enemy to Danger, her own daughter 
Shame, not to mention Scandal. 
The Lover wiU not hearken to her, 
but announces that he belongs to 
Love, and sends her about her 
business. He betakes himself to 
his friend, who tells him that 
although Danger is rough and 
surly he may relent if spoken to 
softly. Danger, at first very 
wroth, hearkens to what he has 
to say, and tells him that he has 
no objection to his loving the Rose 
if he will keep out of its way. 
The Lover gains the powerful aid 
of Pity and Frankness, who plead 
to Danger on his behalf, so that 
the surly guardian permits Bel- 
Acueil to return to him and take 
him to see the Rose once again. 
Venus even assists him to kiss the 
beauteous blossom. But Shame 
and Scandal are aroused by these 
proceedings, and are assisted by 
Jealousy and Fear, who once 
more wake up Danger. Jealousy 
digs a trench aroimd the Rose, and 
builds a tower where Bel-Acueil 
is imprisoned, and the unfortunate 
Lover, his case ten times more 



ROM 



hopeless than ever, is left lament- 
ing outside. At this point the 
work of De Lorris ends. Jean de 
Meung takes up the tale by intro- 
ducing Reason, who holds a lengthy 
discussion with the Lover. Love 
besieges the tower where Bel- 
Aceml is imprisoned, and succeeds 
in freeing him. Danger, however, 
stiU guards the Rose. Love in- 
vokes the aid of Venus, who sends 
Nature and Genius to aid him. 
But all to no avails and it requires 
the presence of Venus herself to 
render it possible for the Lover to 
pluck the Rose at last. In this 
famous poem we find the amorous 
poetry of troubadour and trouvere 
enshrined in symboUsm, with not 
a little of that satire added which 
was symptomatic of the period. 
The consummate excellence of the 
second part of the Roman has made 
it the object of many ardent 
eulogies, and the writer has been 
styled the Voltaire of the middle 
ages, whUe he has likewise been 
compared to Rabelais. The latter 
comparison is certainly apt, Jean 
being anything but prudish, and 
evincing in fact a strong Macabre 
instinct, a taste in winch he is 
curiously at variance with his pre- 
decessor, de Lorris, who is es- 
sentially refined throughout if 
not actually idyllic. Jean is to 
Guillaume, in short, very much 
what Chaucer is to Spenser ; while 
at the same time Jean's parts of 
the Boman de la Hose reflect a 
brighter intelligence than Guil- 
laume's, an intelligence manifestly 
tinctured moreover by sound erudi- 
tion. Over two hundred early 
manuscript copies of the poem are 
in existence, scattered over the 
libraries of Europe, and this 
diffusion must have been going on 
even in the author's day, for 
acquaintance with his work was 
by no means confined to his own 



321 ROM 

country. The story was retold in 
Walloon by a mediaeval Flemish 
poet, Henri van Aken ; while it 
penetrated to Italy, and there it 
was crystallized in a sequence of 
sonnets by Durante, a contem- 
porary and possibly a friend of 
Dante. Then, as EngHsh readers 
need scarcely be reminded, Chaucer 
is credited with a version of the 
tale ; while, reverting to France 
during the reign of Henry II., the 
courtier poet Clement Marot re- 
wrote the Roman de la Rose, and 
his rendering thereof won a popu- 
larity almost equal to that which 
the original edition had enjoyed. 

ROMANCE, NATURE, ORIGIN, AND 
RISE OF. The true character of 
romance is not easily defined. The 
nature of epic proper is solid and 
serious, that of romance fantastic 
and mysterious. But aU epic is not 
serious, nor is aU romance fantastic, 
and we cannot regard such a state- 
ment as a true definition of the 
meaning of the term " romance," 
as we find the fiction of the 
" heroic " age shading into epic 
on the one hand and into pure 
phantasy on the other, with, in 
both instances, a leaning towards 
pseudo-history. It is true again 
that what we know as romance 
flourished during a definite era. 
" Romance " originally designated 
a story written in reman, that is 
eleventh or twelfth-century French, 
instead of in Latin; therefore 
" romance," to use the term in its 
strictly technical sense, is some- 
thing essentially French. How 
far the term " romance " is to be 
associated with the adjective 
" romantic " in its modem accepta- 
tion is really beside the question, 
but will be dealt with in the course 
of this article. 

But the roots of romance — the 
chiefest manifestation of which 

Y 



ROM 

was the Mati^ri de Brefagne, other- 
wise the Arthurian cycle (q.v.) — 
were sunk in a period still older 
than its own, and it owed much of 
its subject-matter to that Celtic 
world whose mythology, characters, 
and incidents it so successfully 
translated into the terms of its 
own time without capturing its 
essential spirit of forlorn and 
mystic beauty. It had also a 
direct forerunner in France — the 
Chanson de Geste, or old French 
pseudo-epic, best instanced by the 
Matidre de France, or Charlemagne 
Cycle. The Chanson de Geste par- 
took more of the nature of epic 
in its seriousness, its relation of 
feats of arms, and its sustained 
spirit of lofty heroism. We find 
ia it much more of what is called 
" the romantic " by modems, and 
it contained many of the germs of 
later romance. Indeed, the dramatis 
personcB of the romantic tales are 
nearly all foreshadowed in the 
chansons, the geographical science 
of both types is almost entirely 
similar, and the chansons are full 
of miracles and phantasies no less 
exaggerated than those to be met 
with in Arthurian story. Indeed, 
the exaggeration to be foxmd in 
the chansons surpasses anything 
in the Arthurian cycle. In the 
chansons " wonder " is genuine ; 
in the romances it is employed in 
a merely theatrical manner. 

But the saUent difference be- 
tween the types was this : the 
romantic school had discovered the 
uses of a love-interest in fiction. 
This it employed in a manner 
which has been surpassed by no 
body of writers. Love illuminates 
and emblazons the pages of the 
writings of the romantic school 
with its refined gold, making pale 
the sagas of the olden days when 
man was the mere breadwinner 
and woman the food-distributor I 



322 ROM 

and hausfrau. In romantic fiction 
we find the relations between the 
sexes altered in a manner which 
reveals the workiags of a semi- 
philosophic system of exceptional 
natural depths and power, if of 
little breadth of outlook. In the 
Chanson de Geste, woman, though 
respected as a mother and a wife 
in true Teutonic fashion, is still 
regarded as if not a saleable at 
least an exchangeable commodity. 
In romance pure she is a divinity. 
Thus romance is the triumph of 
the Gallic over the Teutonic ideal, 
if it is safe to apply ethnological 
terms to literary phases. 

The origin of this change is 
obscure, but probably it may be 
traced to the influence of the 
fostering of an " art of love " by 
a literary coterie who had imbibed 
the amorous teachings of Ovid, 
Virgil, and other classical writers. 
This spirit was principally com- 
municated to society through the 
agency of lyric poetry, poetic con- 
tests and " courts of love " in 
which great ladies adjudicated 
upon affairs of the heart. The 
romance of the day reflected this 
spirit no less than did lyric verse. 
The young squire or page attendant 
on a knight must remain unmarried 
for many years for lack of means 
to support a wife. He therefore 
fixed his regard upon some lady 
usually in a more exalted position 
than himself, whom he worshipped 
with a reverence in which platonio 
affection was strangely inter- 
mingled with the most ardent 
feeUngs. In this spirit we have 
an almost infaUible index to what 
constitutes romance. If a senti- 
mental love-interest be awanting, 
we are justified in relegating the 
tale under dispute either to the 
realms of pseudo-epic or to that 
class of story which partakes of the 
nature of both epic and romance. 



ROM 



323 



By the twelfth century the 
poetry and art d'amour of Pro- 
venge had taken vigorous hold of 
the French mind, and had deeply 
coloured French fiction. The 
esprit gauloise plus the esprit 
d'amour of the GaUic South had 
invaded and conquered the more 
Teutonic north. Love was per- 
haps a more natural state with 
these fiery southerners, and that 
its art should have been systema- 
tized and expressed so didactically 
by a people so passionate is not 
surprising when we think how 
intense was the hold it had upon 
them. It was indeed their " whole 
existence," and they felt the 
imperious need of a system that 
would dictate exactly in what 
manner the love-hfe was to be led. 
As the ancient Egyptian Uved 
solely for his reHgion and subordi- 
nated all other interests to it, so 
did the Proven9al subordinate 
everything to love, which was his 
religion. Thus from passion was 
evolved a reasoned religion of love 
as many religious systems have 
been evolved from the frenzies of 
fanaticism. 

In such a community the older 
literature of love was at a premium. 
Ovid's Art of Love was its text- 
book, and his Heroides and Meta- 
morphoses, as well as the works of 
Statius and Virgil, were also highly 
esteemed. The love-stories of 
Dido and Medea were regarded 
as " very precious," and these 
heroines as suitable mirrors in 
which the grandes dames of the 
period might reflect themselves. 

The French romantic writers of 
the twelfth century form a definite 
school more by reason of their dis- 
covery of love as a Hterary asset 
and the circumstance that their 
efforts were conscious and sophis- 
ticated than from any explicit 
difference of subject-matter from 



ROM 

that to be found in the Chansons 
de Geste. Their sophistication is 
noticeable in that it has almost 
entirely robbed them of the ability 
to see with the eyes of romance. 
They are in reality the least 
romantic body of writers con- 
ceivable. They are the Byrons of 
the Middle Ages — exploiting cyclads 
and singing of strange journeys 
to please a people who had newly 
trodden on the skirts of the 
Orient, with a keen eye towards 
profits and a keen ear towards 
applause. Elegant, and with a 
fine sense of craftsmanship, they 
are yet woefully deficient in know- 
ledge of the real mati^e de poesie. 
They possess the narrower tricks 
of music and something of its spirit, 
but phantasy and the magic of 
the remote mean nothing to them. 
The note of the new French 
poetry, 

" Le cor est triste dans le bois," 

would have left them unmoved. 
This is shown by the circumstance 
that they readily adopted the 
figures and subject-matter of Celtic 
myth without capturing its spirit 
of aloofness. Its far voices whis- 
pered nothing to souls seared and 
sophisticated by passion. The 
romance-writers as the pioneers 
of a new and highly involved 
system were too world-worn to 
dwell on old simplicities ; and they 
had not yet learned to employ that 
simphcity which conceals the ugh- 
nesses of art. They certainly pos- 
sessed a love of strange things. 
But it was a love of novelty, not 
of remoteness, and again they 
were compelled to utiUze the 
machinery of the marvellous as 
demanded by the popular voice. 
Their merit is that they faced new 
problems and solved them. Where- 
as before their time fiction had 
been a mere recital of tribal or 



ROS 

family tradition they chose the 
world as their collecting ground 
for ideas, and in this they were 
perhaps assisted by the westward 
journey of world-stories. How- 
ever thin and formal their efforts, 
they broke away from the limited 
enclosure of what was, when all is 
said and done, merely the " tribal 
lay." They discovered that fiction 
has wings. But in mounting her 
to seek far countries, they kept 
ever in sight of land, and never 
permitted their newly-freed 
Pegasus to soar into the clouds. 

ROSS THE RED. King of Ulster. 
Husband of Maev {q.v.), husband 
of Roy, originator of the Red 
Branch. 

ROS WALL AND LILLIAN, THE 
HISTORY OF. A popular Scottish 
romance. The date of its com- 
position is not known nor do we 
possess the original MS. But it is 
evident by the frequency of its 
mention in ancient writings that 
it retained its popularity amongst 
the Scottish people much longer 
than many others. This is sup- 
ported by the fact that less than 
five decades ago it was not an 
uncommon occurrence to hear it 
chanted in the streets of the 
Scottish capital. The first, or 
earhest printed edition discovered 
is that of 1663, followed by a 
reprint in 1679, since when there 
appears to have been quite an 
abundance of editions. But these 
vary in length causing no little 
confusion. While the first edition 
gives us 846 lines in the epic, the 
subsequent editions are reduced 
considerably in length. The tale 
commences with the birth of 
Roswall whose father is the King 
of Naples. The young prince is 
much admired for his beauty. He 
meets with the displeasure of his 
father, by releasing from imprison- 



324 ROS 

ment three foreign lords, who in 
return promise the young Roswall 
their Ufelong friendship, after 
which they depart to their native 
land. The long confinement has 
altered their appearance consider- 
ably. The noble prince is accused 
of releasing his father's prisoners, 
and but for his mother's pleadings 
he would have met his death. 
The royal father still enraged 
proposes to banish his unfaithful 
son. This the good mother re- 
luctantly agrees to, and after 
many tears the prince and his 
steward depart. Meanwhile 
arrangements have been made 
between the King of Naples and 
the King of Bealm that the latter 
would receive the prince into his 
household. The journey proves 
eventful. RoswaU, Httle suspecting 
his steward of treachery, dismounts 
at a small river to drink. The 
steward seizes his royal master 
and threatens to drown him unless 
he resigns himself to the rufiBan's 
dictation. RoswaU must also hand 
over his wealth and letters. This 
the frightened boy agrees to, but 
fearing further treachery, he 
escapes from the disloyal steward 
as they approach the Castle of 
Bealm. Hurrying into the village 
the prince, finding the day far 
spent, resolves to seek for shelter. 
Approaching a small cottage which 
he timidly enters, he applies to a 
decrepit old housewife for a night's 
shelter. This the woman gladly 
accedes to, adding that her only 
son, who is about his own age, 
would welcome the stranger's com- 
panionship. RoswaU is quite 
delighted at this humble honesty, 
but his royal bearing betrays him. 
He is forced to assume the name 
"Dissawar," to which the old 
woman demurs, as she beheves 
him to come from royal blood. 
The time passes quietly away. 



SOS 



325 



The old dame's son and Roswall 
enjoy each other's companionship, 
and attend the same school. The 
master is particularly pleased with 
his new pupil and shows great 
kindness to him. But the vil- 
lainous steward begins to frequent 
the village, the whUe he assumes 
a royal bearing at the court of the 
King of Bealm. Coming one day 
to the school-house he observes 
his young master, and straightway 
resolves on his capture. Gtoing to 
the kind old dame he mentions 
that her adopted son must accom- 
pany him to his master's court. 
She objects, but in vain, and 
" Dissawar " is taken away. He 
is brought before the court of the 
king of Bealm, to whom he becomes 
a hired servant ; nor is his identity 
revealed. Plodding away without 
a grumble, the unfortunate Roswall 
'soon attracts the attentions of the 
king's daughter, who grows to love 
him ; but as she beUeves that he 
is not of royal blood, therefore 
she must love in secret. BeUeving, 
however, in her heart that this 
" Dissawar " is a prince in dis- 
guise, she chooses Roswall to be 
her chamberlain, which angers the 
jealous steward and gives the 
young prince more hberty. In all 
chivalrous games " Dissawar " is 
allowed to display his prowess. 
He soon meets with the king's 
approval, who begins to suspect 
the true character of his daughter's 
valet. The prince's parents be- 
come anxious for their son, since 
they have never heard from him. 
Meanwhile, messengers are speed- 
ing to Naples to convey to the 
young prince's father the know- 
ledge of his forthcoming marriage. 
This felonious message had been 
invented by the base steward, who 
pretended to be the real prince, 
and who intended to marry Lillian 
the King of Bealm 's daughter. 



ROS 

She in turn swore that no one but 
her " Dissawar " would she marry. 
The intimation of the marriage 
was announced at both courts, 
and in keeping with kingly custom 
a tournament was opened several 
days preceding the wedding day. 
The tourney commences in real 
earnest. Roswall in disguise takes 
a part in the battle, and meets 
with approval from all sides. At 
last the king becomes anxious. 
He has seen the wonderful prowess 
of the prince who has inflicted 
defeat upon aD who met him. 
The king orders the strange knight 
to be captured, but the forest 
proves Roswall's best friend. 
Hastening towards it, he dis- 
mounts, resumes his disguise and 
proceeds to the castle. At last, 
the tourney draws to a close, the 
wedding day approaches and 
nothing short of a miracle will 
prevent its fulfilment. Lilhan has 
resigned herself to her fate, while 
the steward is inwardly exultant. 
But the three lords, whom Roswall 
freed, are peers of the King of 
Bealm's realm, and hearing of the 
approaching marriage, present 
themselves at his court. They 
mix freely amongst the guests, and 
meet with " Dissawar," whom 
they readily recognise as their 
saviour from the prison of the 
King of Naples. They quickly 
inform EilHan, who appeals to her 
father to permit her to marry 
" Dissawar," but he pays no heed 
to her request. The sorrowful girl 
is wedded to the vile steward. 
The feast begins, but the king hears 
of the steward's impostures, while 
the noble lords disclose the true 
personaUty of " Dissawar." At 
this the king is wroth. He orders 
the wicked steward to be hanged, 
after which " Dissawar " discards 
his assumed name, taking his 
loving Lillian before the alter. 



ROD 



326 



They are married. After the feast- 
ing, he takes with him his bride, 
and journeys to the house of his 
father, to find on his arrival that 
the king has died, and his mother 
in her old age is mourning her long- 
lost son. The rejoicings at hia 
home are renewed. He and his 
wife Uve in peace and happiness, 
while their family of five grows 
into maturity. (See D. Laing, 
Early Scottish Metrical Romances.) 

ROUND TABLE, THE. A table, said 
to have been made by Merhn, at 
which the knights of Arthur 
habitually sat. It is mythologicaUy 
considered to represent the sun- 
sphere as Arthur represents the 
Sim-god. 

RUADAN, ST. {Vide " Dermot 
Mackerval.") 

RUDIGER, MARGRAVE. (Jide 
" Nibelungenhed.") Husband of 
Gotlind {q.v.), and ambassador to 
King Elgel. He went on an 
embassy to Kriemhild. He refused 
to turn against the Burgundians, 
but was latterly slain by Hagen 
in error. 

RYMOUR, THOMAS. Erroneously 
designated Learmonth, a poet, 
romancer and seer who was pro- 
bably bom between 1226 and 
1229, and who held the territorial 
title of Ercildoune or Earlston in 
Berwickshire. He is said to have 
resided in a tower situated at the 
western extremity of that village, 
the ruins of which are stDl to be 
seen, whilst on a stone in the front 
wall of Earlston church is an 
inscription in rhyme to the efiect 
that his " race Ues in this place." 
An ancient charter describes him 
as "Thomas Rymor," whilst his 
son is aUuded to as "heir to 
Thomas Rymour of Ercildoun " 
in the assignation of the estate of 



RYM 

Ercildoun made by him to the 
convent of Soltra in 1299. He 
is said to have prophesied the 
death of King Alexander in. of 
Scotland in 1280, so that he must 
have died between these two 
dates. Among his countrymen he 
is celebrated as a prophet or seer 
as weU as a poet, and many of his 
saws and predictions, or at least 
those ascribed to him, will be found 
in the second volume of The 
Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border. 
The Prophecies of Thomas the 
Rhymer were printed at Edinburgh 
in English and Latin in 1691, and 
have been re-published frequently. 
He is alluded to by Pordun, 
Wyntoun, Bhnd Harry and other 
early Scottish historians, and poets, 
and Robert de Brunne, an English 
poet who was contemporary with 
him, states that he was the author 
of a metrical romance entitled 
Sir Tristrem, supposed to be lost 
till a copy of it was discovered in 
the Auchinleck MS. {q.v.) in the 
Advocates' Library in Ediaburgh, 
and published in 1804 with notes 
and an introduction by Sir Walter 
Scott. It is noteworthy that the 
majority of the prophecies accre- 
dited to " True Thomas," as he 
was designated by the Scottish 
peasantry, relate to the counties 
of Berwick and Aberdeen, and this 
lends colour to a tradition that at 
one time he suffered banishment 
from his patrimonial estate and 
sojourned in the latter county. 
The poems popularly ascribed to 
him at a late date are : The Whole 
Prophecies of Scotland, England, 
Ireland, France, and Denmark, 
Marvellous Merlin, Beid, Berling- 
ton, Waldhave, Eltrain, Bannister, 
and Sybilla, but it may be said 
of these as of the alleged works of 
many another ancient writer that 
there is Uttle ground for referring 
any of them to Thomas. There is 



SAB 



327 



more likelihood that the pro- 
phecies traditionally ascribed to 
him and current among the Scot- 
tish peasantry originally emanated 
from him. Regarding the question 
of the authenticity of his author- 
ship of the Tristrem poem with 
which he is credited, see " Auchin- 
leck MS." 

Although Thomas is not to be 
regarded as a mythical hero pure 
and simple, yet the accretions of 
myth have, perhaps inevitably, 
crystalHsed around his name, or 
he has become the centre of a 
myth, probably local, and con- 
siderably older than the century 
which gave him birth, lake Tann- 
hauser he is supposed to have 
disappeared underground at the 
call of " Venus," and an old ballad 



SAB 

tells of his abduction by the 
Queen of Faerie. Cox, Mythology 
and Folklore, p. 160, note, says : 
" No one, probably, will attribute 
the names Horselberg and Ercil- 
doune to accident. In each case 
we have the berg, hill or down of 
the moon-goddess Ursel or Ursula, 
a name which through the forms 
Ursa, Arktos, and Arksha takes 
us back to the original word 
denoting splendour or brightness 
which gives us the Hindu Raja, 
and the Latin Rex, reg-is on the 
one side, and the Hindu Rishi with 
the Teutonic Bragi on the other." 
There would appear to be a germ 
of probability in the etymology, 
although it possesses somewhat 
the appearance of a Miillerian 
philological triumph. 



SABA. In Ossianic romance, the wife 

of Finn (q.v.). She was the mother 

of Oisin (q.v.). She appeared to 

Finn as a fawn, as he was one day 

returning from the chase. His 

man-hounds, Bran and Skolawn, 

having gained upon her, began to 

play around and lick the animal : 

so Finn gave her protection in his 

Dun of Allen. Next morning he 

awoke to find a most beautiful 

woman beside his bed. She had 

been changed those three years, 

she said, by the sorceries of her 

hated lover, the Druid of the 

Fairy Folk, into a fawn. But 

from one of his slaves she had 

learned that her human shape 

would be restored to her, could she 

but reach the Dim of Allen. Finn 

made her his wife, and no longer 

found pleasure in the battle or the 

chase. At last, however, hearing 

that the Northmen's war-ships 

were in the Bay of Dublin, he 



gathered his forces and departed 
to attack them. On the eighth 
day he returned victorious, but to 
find Saba gone. The enchanter, 
in the hkeness of Finn with his 
hounds, had lured her from the 
dun to give her again a fawn 
shape, and by his magic she was 
at last forced to leave her son and 
to follow the Druid. 

SABARYZ. (Vide " Sir Ferumbras.") 
A brave Roman who defended 
Rome against liaban. He was 
killed by Estragot, King of 
Babylon. 

SABER. ( Vide " Bevis of Hampton.") 
Uncle and foster-father of Sir Bevis. 
He went to the Isle of Wight after 
Sir Guy's death, and defended it 
against Sir Murdour and his wife. 
He sent his son Terry, disguised 
as a pilgrim, to find Bevis. He 
was a great dreamer, and on 
several occasions was of the 



SAC 



328 



SAM 



greatest service to Bevis, such as 
rescuing Josyan from Ascapard, 
and finding his horse Arundel. 

SACRIPANT. {Vide " Orlando Inna- 
morato," and " Orlando Furioso.") 
King of Circassia, one of the 
bravest and most faithful of 
Angehca's lovers. When this 
princess was besieged in Albracca 
by Agrican, he marched to her 
assistance with a numerous army, 
and performed many gallant 
actions. 

SADOK, SIR. A knight at the court 
of King Mark (q.v.). Afterwards a 
follower of Lancelot. He was 
charged with the Earldom of 
Surlat, under Lancelot, who as- 
sumed for a while the chieftain- 
ship of that country. ( Vide ' ' Morte 
d'Arthur.") 

SADONE. In Carlovingian romance, 
a vahant pagan who seconds 
Karaheut {q.v.) in his combat with 
Ogier. {Vide " Ogier the Dane.") 

SAGRAMORE LE DESIROUS, SIR. 

Knight of the Court of King 
Arthur. He was slain by Sir 
MeHagrance, while acting as Queen 
Guinever's body-guard. {Vide 
" Morte d'Arthur.") 

SAIGREMORS. Knight. Mentioned 
in the Legend of the Holy Grail in 
connection with the dehverance 
of a damsel from ten robber 
knights. Some fifteen hundred 
verses are devoted to the doings 
of this doughty champion. 

ST. FINNEN. An Irish abbot of the 
sixth century who sought hospi- 
tahty from the pagan chief Tuan 
mac Carell {q.v.), and from him 
learnt the history of Ireland. 

SALADOS. A giant knight and robber 
of lands. He was subdued by 
Sir Ewaine, Knight of the Lion 
{q.v.). 



SALIM. ( Vide " Florice and Blanch- 
fleur.") A loyal servant to Plorice. 
He bore messages between the 
two lovers. He acquainted Florice 
with Blanchfleur's exile to Baby- 
lon, and accompanied his master 
in his search for her. 

SALMON OF KNOWLEDGE. {Vide 

" Fintan.") 

SAM. (Fif^e " Burnt Njal. ") Gunnar's 
(g.w.jfaithfulhound. Treacherously 
slain by Gunnar's murderers ; be- 
fore he died he gave his master 
warning of their approach. 

SAMSON, KING (Samsing). Aromance 
of the Amelung cycle. Once there 
lived a noble yarl (earl) who ruled 
so justly that Salem, his country, 
prospered. In his service was a 
powerful man called Samson, who 
displayed great might in battle. 
The yarl becomes king, and at a 
feast which followed, Samson and 
his loyal follower ask a boon. 
The king granting the warrior 
leave to speak is astoimded at his 
request. Samson had asked that 
he might marry his master's 
daughter, Hildeswid. But the 
perplexed king could not grant 
such a boon to a commoner, 
despite his bravery. Commandiag 
the dejected Samson to carry some 
sweetmeat to the room of Hildes- 
wid, he offers the silent warrior 
as much consolation as he could. 
Samson being a fickle-tempered 
man obeyed the king's command 
without a murmur, but not with- 
out feeling that his rebelhous 
spirit would achieve his purpose. 
Proceeding to Hildeswid's room, 
with the plate of sweetmeats, he 
commands her to prepare to 
accompany him to his home. The 
bewildered girl hesitates, but not 
for long. Reahzing his ungovern- 
able temper, she hastens to comply 
with his commands They then 



SAM 



329 



leave the palace, and hastening 
through the forest arrive at Sam- 
son's dwelUng. After much diffi- 
culty they are admitted into the 
dingy grange by an old woman, 
the mother of Samson. The 
dwelling arouses a f eehng of horror 
in the mind of the princess, who 
is, however, soothed by her ab- 
ductor. The old mother pleads 
that they have no food, and her 
son accuses her of miserliness. But 
a satisfactory meal is provided. 
After which Samson proceeds to 
deal with his pursuers, who had 
by this time discovered the abduc- 
tion. The princess left alone be- 
comes weary, and desiring the old 
woman's companionship goes in 
search of her. Passing from room 
to room she emerges upon a low- 
ceilinged apartment where she 
perceives at one end, in the dim 
light, the ancient dame stooping 
over a chest filled with gold. The 
princess hesitates for a moment 
to listen to the whispered chant 
of the cunning creature, but is 
horrified when she reahzes that the 
wretch means to murder her for 
the sake of her jewels. Just then 
the evil crone turns round, and 
catching sight of the spy runs 
forward, grips the princess by the 
throat, and would have strangled 
her, had not Samson appeared. 
He in his rage draws his sword to 
slay his wicked mother, but, 
remembering he is her son, spares 
her. Samson vanquishes the pur- 
suers, but is quickly assailed by 
the king. Proceeding through the 
forest the king asks of an old 
woman the whereabouts of Sam- 
son's dwelling. At first she refuses 
to divulge it, but upon being 
bribed she readily answers their 
inquiries. This old wretch is the 
mother of Samson. The king and 
his men then attack the house. 
Samson by his mighty strength 



SAM 

subdues the men and kills the 
king. He is sorely tempted to 
end his mother's life, but, despite 
her betrayal, refrains. The men 
of Salem then proceed to elect a 
new king. Samson hopes that he 
may be selected. Brunstein, 
brother of the late Rodgeier, is 
chosen, who, feeling it his duty to 
punish the outlaw, gathers an 
army together and marches against 
Samson. But Samson is cunning, 
and catching the weary army 
asleep one night sets fire to their 
encampment. Brunstein per- 
ceiving through the fitre and smoke 
the huge frame of Samson takes 
flight. The remnant of Brun- 
stein's army then retreat. The 
fugitive king comes to the dwelHng 
of Samson, and after conferring 
with Hildeswid discovers her to 
be his niece. She advises him, 
however, to flee from the wrath of 
her husband. But it is too late, 
Samson is upon him, and after a 
desperate struggle the unfortunate 
monarch is slain. Samson then 
proceeds to dictate to the burghers 
of Salem. Meanwhile he had 
gathered together a large host, 
and with the help of his uncle 
Dietwar he proceeds to threaten 
the terror-stricken district. The 
citizens see that there is no other 
alternative, and requesting the 
burghers to communicate with 
Samson, they gladly acclaim him 
as their king. The hero, seeing 
that his wishes had been complied 
with, sends for his wife, and 
together they ride into Salem, 
amid the greatest enthusiasm. 
The new ruler governs with a 
stem sense of justice, and ad- 
ministers the laws with equal 
regard for all his subjects. His 
country develops and his people 
prosper. Peace reigns within her 
borders, and commerce grows. The 
people learn to love their king. 



SAN 



330 



SAN 



But Samson thought that this 
prolonged peace was not a healthy 
sign, since military prowess was 
the chief glory of his age. So in- 
vesting his eldest son with the 
regency of the kingdom, he 
assembles together his army and 
reminds his forces of their need 
for patriotism. In the meantime 
he issues a note to the proud yarl 
Blsung of Bern (Verona) demand- 
ing that he should pay tribute to 
his hege lord. Samson further 
demands that the earl should give 
his daughter OdiUa to his second 
son. These terms the earl refuses, 
and makes elaborate preparations 
to meet the insolent Samson. In 
reply, the king marches his forces 
upon Bern. There the armies 
meet, and great is the slaughter. 
At length Samson's herculean 
strength prevails. After slaying 
the brave earl, his army gain the 
victory. The defeated Bernese 
seeing their ruler slain, wisely 
choose Samson as their king, thus 
putting an end to the hatred 
which embittered the struggle. 
The king and his host commence 
their return journey. The victory 
satisfies Samson, who made captive 
the dead king's daughter. She at 
first refuses to accept his son, but 
the king's wrath frightened her, 
and, yielding in mortal fear, 
Odilia consents to wed the prince. 
Samson then assures her of peace 
and protection. These arrange- 
ments made, the king and his 
victorious host proceed. But on 
the way, Samson feU ill. The 
woxmds that the earl had inflicted 
upon him began to pain him, 
forcing him to rest at a wayside 
village. He grew worse, the 
wounds would not heal, and after a 
short and painful struggle, Samson 
yielded to death, naming his young- 
est son ruler of the Ehineland, 
with Fritilayung as his residence. 



SANCHAN TORPEST. Chief bard of 
Ireland in the reign of the High 
King Guary. He figures in Sir 
S. Ferguson's Lays of the Western 
Gael, a poem combining the 
legends that bear upon the " Tain " 
or " Cattle Raid of Quelgny " {q.v.). 
Taunted at the feast by the king 
that he could not recite the 
" Tain," Sanchan Torpest deter- 
mined to recover the poem, and 
to that end sought Ireland and 
Alba (Scotland) for traces of it. 
But he could only find fragments 
of the lay, and therefore sent his 
two sons to Italy to learn what 
had befallen the stafE-book. At 
Loch Ein, however, the elder 
brother discovered Fergus mac 
Roy's grave, and at the expense 
of his hfe and love recovered for 
his father the long-lost lay. 

SANAZZARO GIACOMO, author of 
the celebrated Arcadia, was bom 
at Naples in 1458. He belonged 
to a distinguished family, but did 
not inherit any fortune, owing all 
that he possessed to the favour of 
the Neapohtan royal family. He 
distinguished himself in classical 
studies in early life, but the love 
of a lady, Carmosrna Bonifacia, 
determined him to praise her in 
his native tongue. Her he praised 
in his Arcadia, and in many 
sonnets, and when she died, he 
returned to his tatin verses. 
King Frederic gave him the dehght- 
ful VUla Mergohna, a fairy-like 
residence, where the poet 
attempted to realize his dreams 
of happiness in an Arcadia of his 
own. The wars of the French and 
Spaniards overwhelmed him in 
common ruin with his benefactors. 
He sold aU his possessions to relieve 
the necessities of King Frederic 
when that dethroned monarch was 
sent as a hostage to France, 
whither Sanazzaro followed him, 



SAR 



and shared his exile from 1501 to 
1505. Returning to Italy on the 
death of Frederic, he passed the 
rest of his life in a village on the 
slopes of Vesuvius. His Arcadia, 
on which his reputation princi- 
pally depends, was commenced in 
early youth, and pubhshed in 1504, 
when he was forty-six. A species 
of romantic pastoral in prose 
serves to connect twelve romantic 
and pastoral scenes, and twelve 
eclogues of shepherds in arcadia. 
In the seventh Sanazzaro himself 
appears in Arcadia, recounts the 
exploits of his family, and how 
love had driven him into exile. 
The ancient Arcadia is to Sanna- 
zaro nothing more than the poetical 
world of his own age. He awakes 
in the twelfth eclogue as from a 
dream. The execution is elegant 
in the extreme, and if some of the 
sentiments expressed are somewhat 
trite and affected, they do not 
lack warmth and nature. The 
stanzas in which each eclogue ends 
are in the lyric form of canzoni, 
and some of them are instinct with 
beautiful music. Sanazzaro died 
in 1530. 

SARRAQUITE, QUEEN. Queen of 
Sarras (q.v.). In the Grand St. 
Oraal it is recounted how she was 
secretly a Christian, as Christ had 
appeared to her. She had been 
baptized although she feared to 
avow her faith to her husband. 
Josephes (q.v.) brings her with her 
husband, now baptized under the 
name of Mordrains, to the Grail 
shrine and shows them the Grail. 
Eater she sends messengers in 
search of Nasciens and her husband 
whom she regains. She dies on 
the same day as Nasciens and 
Flegentyne. 

SARRAS. A town in the Holy Land 
from which the Saracens are said 
to derive their nomenclature. It 



331 SAX 

is mentioned in the Legend of the 
Graal (or Grail) in connection with 
Joseph. 

SATYN, KING OF. Father of 
Adaranta {q.v.), in whose land 
Uved the boar which was slain by 
Eglamour (g.w.). (F»ie"Eglamour 
of Artoys.") 

SAURLI. (F»de"Volsungs.") Son of 
Gudrun (q.v.). He and his brother 
avenged Swanhild's (q.v.) death by 
slaying King Jormfinrek (q.v.). 

SAWAN. In Irish romance, brother 
of Kian and Goban (q.v.). 

SAXO GRAMMATICUS. A Danish 
historian and poet, belonged to a 
family of warriors, his father and 
grandfather having served under 
Valdemar I., King of Denmark. 
Brought up for the priesthood, 
Saxo entered the service of Arch- 
bishop Absalon about 1180, and 
remained in that capacity until 
that prelate's death in 1201. It 
was at the archbishop's instiga- 
tion that he began, about 1185, 
to write the history of the Danish 
Christian kings from the time of 
SwejTi Astridson (d. 1076), but 
later Absalon prevailed on him 
to write also a history of the 
earlier heathen times, and to 
combine both into a great work, 
Oesta Danorum, or Historia Danica. 
The archbishop died before the 
work was finished, and therefore 
the preface, written about 1208, 
dedicates the work to his successor 
Archbishop Andreas, and to King 
Waldemar. Saxo, from his ap- 
prenticeship as the archbishop's 
secretary, had acquired a brilliant 
but somewhat euphuistic style, 
and wrote fine Latin verses, but 
otherwise he does not seem to 
have had any very great learning 
or extensive reading. His sources 
are partly Danish traditions and 
songs, partly the statements of 



SCH 



Archbishop Absalon, partly the 
accounts of Icelanders, and lastly, 
lists of Danish kings and short 
chronicles, which furnished him 
with some reUable chronological 
facts. 

The first nine books of the Gesta 
Danorum comprise traditions of 
kings and heroes of the semi- 
mythical period up to about 
950 A.D. Here we have traditions 
about Fredf»ode, Amleth (Hamlet) 
and Ferye, about HroHr KraM, 
Hadding, the giant Starkather, 
Harald Hildefaun and Ragnarr 
Lodbrok. In this earher history 
Saxo has also embodied myths of 
national gods who in tradition had 
become Danish Kings, for in- 
stance, Baldar and Hother, and of 
foreign heroes hke wise incorporated 
in Danish history, as the Gothic 
Jormunrek (A.S. Eormenrie) the 
AngUan Vermund (A. S. Garmund) 
and UfEe (A.S. Offa), the German 
Hedin, and Hild, and others. 
Frequently the narrative is inter- 
rupted by translations of poems, 
which Saxo had used as authentic 
sources, although they are often 
only a few generations older than 
himself. In the later books (X.- 
XVI.) of his work he follows to a 
greater extent historical accounts, 
and the more he approaches his 
own time the fuller and the more 
trustworthy his relation becomes. 
Especially brilHant is his treat- 
ment of the history of King Valde- 
mar and of Absalon. But his 
patriotism often makes him partial 
to his countrymen, and his want 
of critical sense often bhnds him 
to historical truth. 

Saxo's work was widely read 
during the middle ages, and several 
extracts of it were made for 
smaller chronicles. It was pub- 
lished for the first time, from a 
MS. afterwards lost, at Paris in 
1514, by the Danish humanist 



_332 SET 

Christiem Pedersen. This edition 
was reprinted at Basle, 1534, and 
at Frankfort, 1576. There is an 
English translation by O. Elton 
and F. W. PoweU (London, 1894). 

SCHIR WILLIAM WALLACE. A 

long poem recounting the military 
and other exploits of Wallace the 
Scottish hero, written during the 
fifteenth century by Blind Harry, 
but based chiefly on traditions 
handed down oraUy since Wallace's 
own period, the end of the thir- 
teenth century. (Vide "Blind 
Harry.") 

SEAT PERILLOUS. The seat left 
empty at the Round Table for 
Sir Galahad, son of Lancelot {q.v.). 
It probably received its soubriquet 
of " perillous " on account of the 
untimely end which met would-be 
occupiers of the seat, such as that 
which befell Moyses {q.v.) when 
the earth opened up and swallowed 
him on his aspiring to seat himself 
thereon. 

SEGARD OF WALLINGFORD. (Vide 
" Guy of Warwick.") Steward and 
counsellor of the Earl of Warwick, 
and father of Sir Guy. 

SEGWIN. (F4(ie" Guy of Warwick.") 
Duke of Lou vain. 

SEMION. 'In Irish romance son of 
Stariat. He settled in Ireland, 
and from him descended all the 
Firbolgs and other two tribes. 

SERA. (The West.) In Irish legend 
father of Partholan (q.v.). 

SERAPHE. The quondam name of 
Nasciens (q.v.) before he was con- 
verted. 

SETANTA. In Irish myth, the earliest 
name of Cuchullm (q.v.). The 
maiden Dectera (q.v.) had dis- 
appeared with her fifty companions 
from the Court of Conor (q.v.). 
After three years the king and his 



SEV 



nobles were lured by a flock of 
birds to the Fairy Mound of Angus 
on the Boyne, where one of them 
met Lugh {q.v.) and the long-lost 
maidens. Next morning in the 
shelter-hut the Ulster warriors 
found a new-bom infant boy. 
With Conall {q.v.) his senior, he 
was nursed by Dectera's sister, 
Finchboom, ConaU's mother. In 
the Court of Conor he learnt the 
warrior's art. It was when a boy 
that the name CuchuUin was given 
him. Being late to arrive at the 
feast of CuUan (q.v.) he was 
attacked by, but slew that Smith's 
enormous watch-hound. He then 
took the place of the hound until 
its whelps might be trained to 
guard the palace, hence his name 
"The Hound of CuUan." {Vide 
"Cuchullin.") 

SEVEN WISE MASTERS, THE. A 
cycle of stories of Oriental origin. 
They tell how a Roman Emperor 
causes his son to be educated away 
from the court in the seven liberal 
arts by ' ' seven wise masters . " On 
his return to court his stepmother 
the empress accuses him to her 
husband, and seeks to bring about 
his death by seven stories which 
she relates to the emperor ; but 
her narrative is each time con- 
futed by tales of the craft of 
women related by the sages. 
Finally the prince's lips are un- 
sealed, the truth exposed, and the 
wicked empress is executed. This 
cycle of stories, which appears in 
many European languages, is of 
Eastern origin. An analogous 
collection occurs in Sanskrit, but 
the Indian original is unknown. 
Travelling from the east by way of 
Arabic, Persian, Syriac, and 
Greek, it was known as the Book 
of Sindibad, and was translated 
from Greek into Latin in the 
twelfth century by Jean de Haute- 



333 SIB 

seille, a monk of the Abbey of 
Hati'teseille, with the title of 
Dolopathus. Three metrical 
romances exist in English, probably 
based on the French. The most 
important of these is The Seven 
Sages, by John RoUand of Dal- 
keith, edited for the Baimatyne 
Club. (Edinburgh, 1837.) 

SEYFRID OF MOORLAND. King of 
Carady. ( Vide " Gudrun Lay " and 
" Guiun.") One of the suitors 
for Gudrun's hand. While Her- 
wig {q.v.) is attacking Hegelingen, 
Seyfrid ravages Seeland, till Her- 
wig, aided by Hettel {q.v.), drives 
him back. On Gudrun's abduc- 
tion by Hartmut and Ludwig 
{q.v.), peace is made between Sey- 
frid and Herwig, and Seyfrid 
aids in the unsuccessful attempt 
to rescue her. He brings men 
and pinnaces to the later expedi- 
tion which rescues Gudrun from 
Ormany, and finally weds a sister 
of Herwig. 

SGEIMH SOLAIS. (Light of Beauty.) 
Daughter of Cairbry {q.v.), in 
Irish romance, she was asked in 
marriage by a son of the King of 
the Decies. On the arrangement 
of the alliance the Fianna {q.v.), 
claimed a tribute of twenty ingots 
of gold, and by the exorbitancy of 
their claim precipitated hostihties, 
which resulted in the Battle of 
Gowra {q.v.) (Garristown, co. 
DubUn), in which the Fianna were 
almost exterminated, and Cairbry 
and Oscar (q.v.) slew each other. 

SIBICH. {Vide " Dietrich of Bern.") 
A marshal of the realm of Ermen- 
rich {q.v.). His avarice knew no 
bounds, and he plotted to secure 
his master's downfall. Through 
his wicked influence the empire 
was plunged into war. He was 
assisted in his vile work by 
another minister of the realm 



SID 



named Ribestein (q.v.), whom he 
bribed. His chief aim was to 
embroil his master in war against 
Dietrich. In this he was success- 
ful ; but not to the satisfaction of 
his own ends. His master was 
defeated, and he almost suffered 
death ; but for his former services 
he was saved. 

SIDHE, PEOPLE OF THE. (Fairy 
Mounds.) In Irish romance, the 
Danaans (q.v.) in the later fairy 
state. 

SIDRAC. A French romance current 
in England in the early part of the 
fourteenth century, and fully 
described as Le Livere Sydrac le 
PhilosopJie le quel horn appele le 
livere de la funtane de totes science. 
It appears to have been very 
popular from the frequency with 
wMch its MS. are met with. It is 
in reality a system of natural 
philosophy, and treats of the 
virtues of plants. It undoubtedly 
originates from an Arabian source, 
probably an offshoot of the litera- 
ture of the Moors in Spain. 
Sidrac, the philosopher of this 
system, was astronomer to an 
Eastern king. He lived 870 years 
after Noah, of whose book of 
astronomy he was possessed. He 
converts Bocchus, an idolatrous 
king of India, to the Christian 
faith, and by him is invited to 
build a mighty tower against the 
invasions of a rival monarch. 
After the death of Bocchus this 
book of Sidrac fell into the hands 
of a Chaldean renowned for piety. 
It then successively becomes the 
property of King Madian, Namaan 
the Assyrian, and Grypho, Arch- 
bishop of Samaria. The latter had 
a priest named Demetrius, who 
brought it into Spain, and here it 
was translated from Greek into 
Eatin. This translation was said 



334 SIE 

to be made at Toledo by Roger de 
Palermo, a minorite friar in the 
thirteenth century. A King of 
Spain then commanded it to be 
translated from Eatin into Arabic, 
and sent it as a most valuable 
present to Emir Elmomenim, Lord 
of Tunis. It was next given to 
Frederick II., Emperor of Ger- 
many, famous in the Crusades. 
This work, which is of considerable 
length, was translated into EngUsh 
verse by Hugh Campeden, under 
the title The Historic of King 
Bocchus and Sydrack in 1510. It 
is in the " minstrel metre," and 
possesses neither elegance of 
diction nor harmony of versi- 
fication. 



SIEGE OF MILAN, THE. Written in 
twelve stanzas in English. It is 
perfect in the middle and at the 
end, 1602 Unes remaining. No 
French original is known of this 
poem. The Saracens under Sultan 
Arabas, after plundering Rome and 
other cities, take Milan. The 
Lord of Milan, Sir Alantine, hastens 
to Charlemagne, who sends Roland 
with an army to Milan. The 
French are defeated ; Richard of 
Normandy is killed, and Roland 
and three other paladins are taken 
prisoners. The captives are 
brought before Arabas, who taunts 
them by ordering a crucifix to be 
burned. Miraculous flames burst 
forth from it which blind the 
Saracens. Guy of Burgundy 
slaughters Arabas, and the 
prisoners ride back to France upon 
celestial horses. 

Charlemagne himself prepares to 
march on Milan. Meanwhile the 
Saracens have crowned " Sir 
Garcy " (the Garsile of the French 
Otinel (q.v.)) as their Sultan. 

The Saracens meet the army of 
Charlemagne, and are driven back 
on Milan ; the French prepare a 



SIK 



335 



SIG 



siege of the city, and at this 
juncture the poem breaks off. 

Edited for the Early English 
Text Society by Sydney J. Werr- 
tage. It forms the bulk of the 
volume called The Eniglish Charle- 
magne Romances, Part II. (1880). 

SIEGFRIED. (" Nibelungenlied.") 
Son of King Siegmund of Xanten. 
He divided the treasure of the 
Nibelungs between Nibelung and 
SchiUung, slew both brothers, and 
overcame the dwarf Alberich (q.v.), 
he slew a dragon and bathed in the 
blood, whereby his skin being 
turned to horn, no weapon could 
harm him. He married Kriemhild 
of Burgundy, and won Brunhild 
of Isenstein {q.v.) for Gunther, his 
brother-in-law. But Brunhild 
loved him, and out of jealousy for 
Kriemhild urged her husband to 
slay him, a murder which was 
efEected by stealth. He is the 
great hero of the earher portions 
of the Nibelungenlied. 

SIGEBANT. (FicZe "Gudran Bay.") 
King of Ireland, father of Hagen 
(q.v.). 

SIGEHEB. A son of the Emperor 
Dietwart (q.v.). He is mentioned 
in the legend as being the only son 
of a family of forty-four, who 
survived the death of his parents, 
who are said to have lived for 
five hundred years. (Vide " Diet- 
wart.") 

SIGELINT. (See "Nibelungenlied.") 
One of the two merwomen whose 
raiment Hagen seized when he 
found them bathing by the Danube, 
and wished to compel them to fore- 
tell the future. She contradicted 
the false prophecy of her com- 
panion (vide " Hadebruc "), and 
foretold that none of the Burgun- 
dians should ever return to their 
land, save only the King's chaplain, 
which prophecy was fulfOled. 



8IGEN0T. A High German poem, 
probably of Tyrolese origin, dating 
from the latter part of the thir- 
teenth century, and part of the 
Saga cycle relating to Dietrich of 
Bern (q.v.). It recounts how 
Dietrich riding through the forest 
encountered the sleeping giant 
SigenSt, whom he awakened 
roughly. Sigenot felled him with 
his club and cast him into a deep 
snake-infested pit. Hildebrand, 
a follower of Dietrich's, next en- 
countered the giant, who seized 
him also, and would have thrown 
him beside his master, had his 
prisoner not espied Dietrich's 
sword at the mouth of the pit. He 
seized it, and slew the giant, sub- 
sequently rescuing Dietrich with 
the aid of a dwarf Eggerich. See 
Deutsche Heldenhuch, BerUn, 
1866-1878; E. Henrici, Daa 
Deutsche Heldenbuch, vol. vii. of 
Kirschner's Deutsche National 
Litterratur ; J. M. Ludlow. 
Popular Epics of the Middle Ages, 
London and Cambridge, 1865. 

SIGENOT, ( Vide " Dietrich of Bern.") 
A giant related to Grim (q.v.). He 
unsuccessfully attempted to avenge 
Grim's death, but met his own end 
at the hands of Dietrich and 
Hildebrand (q.v.). 



SIGGEIR. King of the Goths 
" Volsungs "), who married Signy 
(q.v.) daughter of Volsung (q.v.). 
He attempted to destroy Sigmund 
(q.v.), and SinfjotU (q.v.), but his 
own treachery brought him to his 
death. His wife Signy (q.v.) 
perished also at the same time. 

SIGI. Son of Odin, and father of 
Rerir (q.v.), a character in " The 
Lay of the Volsungs " (q.v.) who, 
forced to flee from his father's 
wrath, settled in Hunland. He 
was slain by his own followers. 



SIG 

SIGMUND. {Vide " Volsungs "), son 
of Volsung {q.v,), father of Siiafjotli 
(q.v.) by his sister Signy {q.v.). 
He wedded Borghild (q.v.) who 
bore him two sons, Helgi {q.v.) 
and Hammund {q.v.). He after- 
wards destroyed l^er for poisoning 
Sinfjotli. He then married 
Hjordis {q.v.) daughter of King 
Eylimi {q.v.), who gave birth to 
Sigurd {q.v.) after his death. He 
was latterly assailed by King 
Lyngi {q.v.), a rival in love, who 
slew him and King EyUmi. 

SIGNY. {Vide "Volsungs.") The 
daughter of Volsung {q.v.). She 
married King Siggeir {q.v.), to 
whom she bore two children, who, 
by her wish, were slain by Sig- 
mund {q.v.) her brother. Dis- 
guised as a witch, she dwelt for 
several days with her brother, and 
afterwards bore to him Sinfjotli 
{q.v.). She subsequently perished 
with King Siggeir her husband, 
when her brother set fire to his 
dwelling. 

SIGURD. Son of Sigmund {q.v.) and 
Hjordis {q.v.). {Vide " Volsungs.") 
He was bom at the court of HJal- 
prek {q.v.) after his father's death. 
He became very powerful. His 
tutor Begin {q.v.) accompanied 
him on many of his exploits. He 
received the foal Grani from Odin. 
He revenged his father's death by 
slaying Eling Lyngi {q.v.) and the 
sons of Handing, after which he 
overcame the dragon Fafnir {q.v.), 
whose heart he ate, this endowing 
him with the power of under- 
standing the language of birds. 
These advised him to slay Regin, 
which he did. He then raised 
Brunhild {q.v.) from the trance 
into which Odin had placed her. 
He tried to win her love, but 
having drunk a potion which made 
him forget her, he wedded Gudrun 
{q.v.), daughter of King Giuki 



336 SIR 

{q.v.) and his queen Grimhild 
{q.v.). Later in the shape of 
Gunnar {q.v.) he rode through the 
flames on to Brunhild's castle, and 
thus won her for Gunnar. He 
afterwards repented of his decep- 
tion, but Brunhild had by then 
learned the truth. He was slain 
by Gunnar's brother Guttorm at 
the request of Brunhild, and in 
turn slew the murderer. 

SIGURD, {Vide " Grettir Saga.") 
Husband of Lady Spes {q.v.). 

SIGWARIDES, SIR, LORD OF THE 
ISLE. A noble knight in Arthur- 
ian romance, and husband of an 
imfaithful wife. He is slain by Sir 
Lancelot in the rescue of Queen 
Guinever from the stake. {Vide 
"Morted'Arthur.") 

SINEND. In Irish legend daughter 
of Lodan, and thus granddaughter 
of Lir {q.v.). She went to a certain 
well named Connla's well, under 
the sea (that is in the Land of 
Faerie), by which the hazel trees 
of the science of poetry blossomed. 
Omitting certain rites in drawing 
nigh it, she was overwhelmed by 
the waters, and washed up on the 
shores of the river Shannon, where 
she died, giving to the river its 
name. 

SINFJOTLI. {Vide "Volsungs.") 
Son of Signy {q.v.) begotten of 
Sigmund {q.v.) her brother. He 
met his death through Borghild's 
{q.v.) treachery. 

SIR GAWAYNE AND THE GRENE 
KNYGHT. One of a number of 
Enghsh metrical romances on the 
subject of Gawayne. The romance 
relates that as King Arthur and 
his knights sat down to dine one 
New Year Day a strangely 
appareUed horseman entered the 
hall. In height and fierceness of 



SIR 



337 



regard no knight could equal him. 
He bore in one hand a bunch of 
holly, and in the other a well- 
sharpened axe. Everything that 
he wore, and even the trappings of 
his horse, were of green. The king 
had not seen such a strange sight 
before, and in haste to welcome 
the fierce visitor he asked him to 
join in the feast. But the knight 
refused, for he had come to test 
the bravery of the king's cham- 
pions. Brandishing the axe in 
the air, he challenged any one of 
the assembled knights to deal him 
a blow on the neck with the weapon, 
on condition that on the same day 
one year hence the acceptor would 
submit to a similar blow at his 
own hands. The amazed on- 
lookers could not allow this chal- 
lenge to go unheeded, and to the 
reUef of all, Gawayne arose and 
accepted it. The Green Knight 
dismounted, laid bare his neck, 
and commanded Gawayne to 
strike. Down came the sharp blow, 
cutting through skin and bone, 
and sending the severed head roll- 
ing along the floor. The head- 
less knight took the axe, picked 
up the head and mounted his 
steed. As he rode towards the 
door the head turned round and 
warned Gawayne on his peril not 
to fail to be at the Green Chapel 
next New Year Day. The court 
talked long about this adventure. 
But as the year roUed on Gawayne 
only was mindful of the event. 
Soon the year drew to a close, and 
after a farewell carousal the sad 
but brave-hearted knight set off 
for the Green Chapel. He wan- 
dered over hill and through dale, 
but the meeting-place appeared 
not in sight. One evening as his 
weary horse led him through a forest 
he espied through a clearing of 
the branches a many-towered 
castle. On he spurred his steed 



SIR 

until he came within sight of the 
drawbridge, which in response to 
his signals was let down. Here 
he was lodged, and as his host 
assured him that the chapel was 
near at hand, he did not hesitate 
to prolong his stay, for it yet 
wanted six days ere the New Year. 
Every morning his good host went 
to the hunt, and during his absence 
his wife tempted her guest. But 
Gawajme remained virtuous. The 
last morning of his stay duly 
arrived, and as he would not 
respond to his temptress she pre- 
sented him with a green buckle. 
This he concealed from the gaze 
of his host by fastening it under 
his armour, and resumed his fatal 
Journey accompanied by a servant 
to lead the way. At last the 
servant halted, and, pointing in 
the direction of the chapel, bade 
the knight go on alone. With an 
ill-boding he came to a cave almost 
concealed by evergreens, and 
deeming this to be the Green 
Chapel he dismounted and peered 
within. Nothing but green met 
his gaze, and at last raising a 
shout, he was answered by the 
Green Knight caUing him to come 
forward. On he went without 
faltering, but beheving none the 
less that his last moment had 
come. The greeting from the 
Green Knight, whose head rested 
as soundly as ever on his body, 
was cordial, and anxious to end 
the suspense, he commanded the 
fated knight to dofiE his helmet 
and lay bare his neck. This done, 
the Green Knight swung the axe, 
but Gawayne flinched. The 
Green Knight uttered a word of 
warning, and once more swinging 
his weapon, brought it down upon 
SirGawayne's neck. To Gawayne's 
surprise his head was still secure, 
for the axe had but bruised the 
skin. Then he turned to the 



SEA 



Green Knight and beheld him to 
be his good host, who told him 
that his name was Sir Bemlake, 
and in his house lived Morgan-le- 
Fay, who had led his wife to tempt 
his guest. But now that he had 
proved a man of valour and noble 
virtue he could not suffer so young 
a head to roll in the dust. The 
two knights parted, and Gawayne 
rode back to the court of Arthur. 
The substance of this tale is 
almost identical with that in which 
the Irish hero Cuchulain takes 
up the challenge by the demon 
caUed " The Terrible " (q.v.), cuts 
off the monster's head, and next 
day submits to a like test himself, 
escaping unharmed. It is notice- 
able that "The Terrible" is a 
water spirit, and the garb and 
dwelling of the Green Knight 
would seem to point to the cir- 
cumstance that he had a similar 
origin. That the Arthurian story 
is founded upon the Irish one is 
obvious, and this would appear 
to afford an illustration of some 
value concerning the presumed 
Irish source of many Arthurian 



SKAMKELL. (F*(ie " Burnt Njal.") 
The fawning friend of Otkell 
(q.v.) ; with whom he was slain 
by Gunnar {q.v.) and Kolskegg 
{q.v.). 

SKARP-HEDINN. {Vide "Burnt 
Njal.") Eldest son of NJal. He 
avenged Gunnar's death ; assisted 
in the slaying of Thrain {q.v.) and 
Hrapp {q.v.), and in that of 
Hanskuld {q.v.). For this murder 
he was burnt with his parents 
and his brother Grim {q.v.) in 
Njal's home. 

SKATHA. In Irish romance a 
mighty woman — warrior of the 
Land of Shadows (Skye ?). To 
her went many Irish warriors to 



338 SON 

learn feats of war, the last two 
being the crossing of the Bridge of 
Leaps which led to her dun or 
dweUing, and the use of the Gae 
Bolg(g'.z;.). Cuchullin (g'.w.) accom- 
plished the first, and was taught 
the second. 

SKEGGI. {Vide " Grettir Saga.") 
One of the company that went 
with Thorkel to the king. Both 
he and Grettir lost their meal-bags 
on the way. But Skeggi finding 
one, Grettir demanded it of him, 
the quarrel ending in Skeggi's 
death and in a three years' banish- 
ment for the victor. 



SKENA. In Irish romance wife of 
Amergin {q.v.), son of Miled {q.v.). 
As the Milesians were sailing for 
Ireland she died on the way, and 
was buried at Inverskena, the 
ancient name of the Kenmare 
River. 

SKAPTI. {Vide "Grettir Saga.") 
The lawman and friend of Grettir. 

SOLOMON'S SHIP. The ship on 
which in Arthurian legend Sir 
Galahad's {q.v.) sword was found. 
The legend tells how the heroes 
came upon the sword at the foot 
of a rich bed with its blade six 
inches out of the scabbard. Gala- 
had examining the sword finds 
the scabbard made of serpent's 
skin. He also sees written on the 
blade that none should draw it 
who could not strike better than 
the others. Sir Perceval's sister 
supphes hangLQgs made of her own 
hair and names the sword " The 
Sword of Strange Hangings," and 
the scabbard " Memory of Blood," 
and Galahad girds on the weapon. 

SONG OF ROLAND, THE. A poem of 
the eleventh century, and the first 
recorded of the Carlovingian cycle. 
The earhest text extant which 
purports to be written bv Turold 



SON 



339 



or Theroulde (q.v.), is preserved 
at Oxford, in the Bodleian Library. 
The Song is not the work of a 
finished poet, but its lofty tone 
of courage, patriotism and devo- 
tion to duty as well as its affecting 
and impressive native nobility 
place it among the great epic 
poems of the world. The resolve 
of the valiant few to face the 
hosts of Saracens who confront 
them, and the strong but simple 
language in which they exhort 
each other must appeal powerfully 
to every brave man, whilst the 
sorrow of the paladins for those 
who have fallen and the affecting 
circumstances of the deaths of 
( I Roland, Oliver, and Turpin are 
. f scarcely to be read with dry eyes. 
The childlike honesty and trans- 
parency of the whole work is 
marvellously refreshing, and the 
military spirit with which it is 
infused stirs the heart like a 
trumpet-call. The Song of Roland 
is to be regarded as Norman in its 
origin, and was probably written 
by a certain Theroulde, tutor of 
William the Conqueror. It was 
certainly chanted by the Norman 
warrior Taillefer, as he rushed on 
the Saxons at the battle of 
Hastings, and the improbable 
theory of M. Genin is that the 
Oxford MS., after passing through 
Taillefer's hands, was deposited in 
an MS. chest by a second Theroulde, 
Abbot of Peterborough, who died 
in 1098. But the Oxford MS. is 
manifestly not the original, nor is 
it the first work of its kind, as can 
be proved by internal evidence. 
The Song tells the story of Ron- 
cevaux, which combat it is now 
considered was a Basque ambush 
to cut off the retreating French 
rearguard in the Pyrenees, and 
not a Saracen strategem, as the 
poem has it. The Basque song 
of Alta-hicar enshrines the memory 



SON "'^ 

of the fight among the Pyrenean 
peasantry. The battle took place 
in 778 A.D. according to the 
Annates of Eginhard, Charle- 
magne's chronicler. 

The Song begins by stating that 
at the period of its commencement 
the emperor had been " full seven 
years in Spain," and had con- 
quered that land as far as the sea. 
He only requires to reduce Sara- 
gossa, which is held by King 
Marsile, who worships Mahomet. 
Marsile calls his lords to council 
as to how he may best rid himself 
of Charles. Blancadrin advises 
him to send a friendly embassy to 
the emperor, offering to go and do 
fealty to him at Michaelmas and 
receive baptism, and further to 
give hostages. The Franks wiU 
then depart, and Marsile need not 
keep his promises. The hostages 
win be hanged, but it is better so 
than that the Moors should lose 
Spain the bright. The advice is 
taken, and envoys are sent with 
the mendacious message. They 
arrive at where Charles is, sur- 
rounded by his peers, whom he 
calls into council. Roland dis- 
likes the terms, and suspects 
treason. Ganilo, Roland's step- 
father, and a traitor, presses the 
assembly to accept them. Roland 
then suggests that Ganilo himself 
should proceed to Marsile's head- 
quarters and come to an arrange- 
ment with him. This enrages 
Count Ganilo, and he resolves to 
destroy Roland, whom he hates, 
and Oliver with him. He takes 
his leave on his errand, hate of 
Roland in his heart. He comes 
to where Marsile is, and tells him 
that Charlemagne will give him 
one-half Spain in fee if he becomes 
a Christian, the other half he will 
give to Roland, his nephew. At 
the instance of Blancadrin Marsile 
bribes Ganilo to assist him in the 



SON 



340 



destruction of Eoland. Ganilo, 
who desires nothing better, tells 
him that Eoland will be in com- 
mand of the rearguard of the 
French, only 20,000 men in all, 
and that when they retreat into 
their own country, imagining that 
Marsile has surrendered, the 
Moorish king should raise 100,000 
men and cut ofE the French and 
slay Roland. So would Charles 
lose " the right hand of his body." 
Ganilo then returns to the em- 
peror Charles, and tells him that 
Marsile has agreed to become his 
man, and wiU follow him to France 
in a month's time. The French 
then depart for " sweet France." 
The pagans follow in their wake, 
four hundred thousand strong. 
OUver in the rearguard says to his 
friend Roland that he hears a 
noise of trumpets afar off. He 
mounts a high pine-tree, and espies 
the paynim host. He cannot 
count even the troops of them. 
They draw near. The Franks 
form in battle array. Archbishop 
Turpin addresses them, absolves 
them, and for penance commands 
them " to strike." The battle 
begins by a single combat between 
Roland and Asbroth, whom the 
Frankish knight slays with a 
mighty stroke. The combat waxes 
furious. The French knights do 
tremendous execution. The Arch- 
bishop Mils Siglorel the enchanter, 
who, led by Jupiter (mistaken by 
the author for a Moorish deity), has 
already been in Hell. The pagans 
die by hundreds and by thousands. 
In France there is a mighty tem- 
pest, prophetic of the great loss 
which that land will suffer through 
the slaying of her best warriors. 
Now comes King Marsile with full 
thirty troops to the rescue of those 
who flee. So vaUant are the 
French, however, that victory 
seems long to remain with them. 



SON 

But after four successful en- 
counters, the French knights are 
all slain save sixty. Roland says 
to Oliver that he will blow his 
horn for the purpose of attracting 
the French vanguard with the 
emperor, but Ohver dissuades 
him, saying that it would be shame 
to crave succour. Turpin, the 
archbishop, says that it is useless, 
for by the time Charles arrives 
they will all be cut to pieces. But, 
nevertheless, the king may avenge 
them. So Roland blows his ivory 
horn, and Charles hears it thirty 
leagues away. He recognizes it, 
but Ganilo laughs him to scorn. 
The emperor in wrath sees through 
Ganilo's treachery, has him seized, 
and returns to assist the rearguard. 
The French under Roland knowing 
that they will receive no quarter, 
and askmg none, renew the fight 
like lions. The Saracen Marganice 
strikes OUver from behind, but is 
slain by him. Ohver loses much 
blood, and when Roland comes 
nigh he mistakes him for a Saracen, 
and deals him a terrible blow, as 
does Vivien to Wihiam of Orange 
in the Coveriant Vivien. Ohver 
feels that death is nigh, descends 
from horseback, and hes down on 
the ground. He expires. Roland 
laments over him " full sweetly." 
All the French are now slain save 
the doughty archbishop and 
Walter of Luz. Roland returns 
to the fray. He does great execu- 
tion. He weakens. His temples 
are burst by his blowing of the horn, 
which once more he sounds. The 
French host approaching rephes 
with a fanfare of sixty thousand 
trumpets, the sound of which 
reaches the hard-pressed warriors. 
Roland and Turpin stand together. 
The archbishop goes off and 
searches the field for the bodies 
of the peers, finds them, and places 
them in a row. Roland faints, and 



SON 

Turpin trys to find water for him. 
But so weak is the archbishop 
that he falls dead of his many- 
wounds. Roland feels that death 
is near. He ascends a tree under 
which are four blocks of marble. 
A Saracen thinking him at his last 
gasp seizes him and his sword, but 
is slain. He cannot see any more. 
He strikes ten blows on a rock 
with his sword Durandel — the last 
blows of a proud, dying man. He 
lies down and turns his head to 
the pagan folk, that all should say 
that he died a conqueror. Roland 
is dead. The emperor reaches 
Roncevaux. He is amazed at the 
slaughter. He calls for the peers, 
but finds all slain. The French 
pursue the fleeing Saracens. The 
amiral (Emir-al-mumenim) of 
Alexandria, Bahgant, comes to 
the succour of Marsile, and rides 
at once to meet the emperor. 
Charles, meanwhile, finds the body 
of Roland. The French bury 
their dead, but the hearts of 
Roland, Oliver, and Turpin are 
taken out and placed in urns, and 
their bodies, wound in stag- 
leather, are placed upon carts. 
The Saracen army approaches. 
The combat becomes general, and 
the French do wonders. Charles 
slays Bahgant, the pagans flee, 
and the French pursue. Brami- 
domie, Marsile's wife, sees the rout 
from the towers of Saragossa, and 
cries out that all is lost. On 
hearing her, Marsile turns his face 
to the wall and dies of chagrin, 
giving his soul to the devils. The 
emperor breaks down the gates 
of the city and enters it. The 
inhabitants are baptized by force, 
and the queen is led a prisoner to 
France, where she is converted. 
Leaving a garrison at Saragossa, 
Charles departs. He buries Ro- 
land, OHver and Turpin in St. 
Roman's Church at Blaye. He 



341 SON 

tries Ganilo. During the trial 
Alda, a fair damsel, enters the hall 
and asks for Roland. She is the 
sister of Ohver, and Roland's 
betrothed. {Vide " Gerard de 
Viana.") On hearing of his death 
she suddenly expires. The barons 
agree that Ganilo should be freed. 
But Thierry opposes this. Pin- 
abel, Ganilo's kinsman, takes ex- 
ception to this, and the twain 
fight. Thierry slays Pinabel. 
Ganilo is sentenced to be torn to 
pieces by horses. At night the 
emperor is lying in his vaulted 
chamber when he has a visit from 
St. Gabriel, who bids him summon 
all his hosts that he may go into 
the land of Syria to the succour of 
King Vivian, who is besieged by 
pagans. The emperor fain would 
not go. " God," he cries, " so 
painful is my Ufe." And with this 
hint at his bitter sorrow for his 
nephew and his repugnance to 
further slaughter the Song ends. 

SONG OF THE SAXONS, THE. Aro- 
mance of the Carlovingian cycle, 
and flfth in number of the Romans 
des Douze Pairs de France. It 
was composed by Jean Bodel, a 
poet of Artois, who flourished to- 
wards the middle of the thirteenth 
century, though, indeed, in a 
Turin MS. the authorship seems 
to be claimed by one Guerris. It 
lies upon the borderland between 
traditional history and pure 
romance. The subject is his- 
torical — Charlemagne's invasion 
of Saxony on his return from 
Roncevaux. The work is scarcely 
to " be considered as original, 
despite the ' contempt which the 
author throws upon the " villein 
joglers " who " could neither tell 
the verse of it nor the song." 
And is almost certainly founded on 
the ruder songs of the joglers, as 
the subject is treated in several 



SON 



342 



poems which are as old if not even 
more ancient than the " Song " 
itself. However, the opening of 
the poem shows clearly that it 
belongs not to an age of mere 
songful activity, but to a period 
of Uterary composition. There 
are but three subjects worthy of 
song, says the bard, — of France 
(that is of Charlemagne) of Britain 
(of Arthur) and of Rome the Great 
(of the Gesta Romanorum). 
Charlemagne receives news of a 
Saxon invasion. The heathen 
have taken Cologne, have killed 
Duke Milo, and have carried off 
Hehssend, promised bride of 
Nerard of Montdidier. The 
barons of Herupe (the north-west 
provinces of modem France) 
refuse to march against the foe 
until Charles first introduces into 
Herupe " our customs and our 
laws." They are at last appeased, 
and Charles invades Saxony, 
reaching the banks of " Rune the 
deep," beyond which hes the 
Saxon king Guiteclin's palace of 
Tremoigne, supposed to be Dort- 
mund in Westphalia. After a 
siege of two years and more the 
barons grumble, and ask Charles 
to call out the men of Herupe to 
their assistance. This is done, 
and the men of Herupe respond 
loyally. They ask where they 
are to lodge their troops, and the 
emperor points to the other side 
of the " Rune," to the Saxon lines. 
The Herupians take him at his 
word, and seize the position after 
a tremendous struggle. A bridge 
is built, and the army passes over 
it ; the Saxons are discomfited, 
and Charlemagne kills Guitechn in 
single combat. At this point " the 
slender vein of historic truth which 
runs through the poem may be 
considered as quite exhausted." 
Sebile, the wife of GuitecUn, has 
taken the captive HeUssend as her 



SON 

favourite, and with her and other 
ladies, estabhshes herself on the 
banks of the river to act as decoys 
to the Franks and to turn them 
" to folly." She falls in love with 
Baldwin, a nephew of Charle- 
magne's to whom she sends a love- 
message. On the death of her 
husband, GuitecUn, she is given in 
marriage to Baldwin by the em- 
peror, and the twain are crowned 
King and Queen of Saxony. 
Hehssend is united to Berard, a 
Frankish champion. The two 
sons of Guiteclin with one hxmdred 
thousand Russians and Bulgarians 
and the giant Ferabrus of Russia, 
march on Tremoigne to avenge 
Guitechn's death. Baldwin has 
but fifteen thousand troops to 
oppose them, but refuses to send 
for succour to Charlemagne, who 
has returned to his dominions. 
At length he is prevailed upon to 
do so, and attacks the invaders 
with five thousand men, putting 
their vanguard to flight. Baldwin 
refuses to re-enter the city, 
although attacked by the main 
force of the paynim. He Mils 
Ferabrus, and unhorses one of 
Guitechn's sons. But numbers 
tell, and the Franks are forced to 
retreat into Tremoigne. The 
messenger despatched to Charle- 
magne comes up with him at 
Cologne, and the emperor starts 
in haste for Saxony with ten 
thousand men. Arrived at the 
beleaguered city, Charlemagne 
attempts to efiFect a Junction with 
his nephew, who boldly throws 
himself into the pagan ranks and 
slays large numbers. Uncle and 
nephew join forces, and the battle 
is renewed with fury. Baldwin, 
mortally woimded, cleaves a 
Saxon to the shoulders and dies. 
Charlemagne bitterly inveighs 
against fate at his nephew's death, 
and quits the field. He is met by 



SOT 



343 



STO 



Sebile, who inquires concerning her 
husband. Charlemagne shows her 
his corpse and she faints away. 
Her lament is most beautiful and 
impassioned. Charles that night 
rode the rounds himself, armed 
cap-k-pie. Finally the men of 
Herupe come up in force and rout 
the Saxons. An abbey is founded 
on the field, and is entered by 
Sebile. Dyalos, a baptized Saxon 
Idng, receives custody of the king- 
dom, and the emperor returns 
with the bodies of Baldwin and 
Berard. The poem as it stands is 
nbt to be considered as original, as 
the compiler refers to MS. autho- 
rity at the convent of St. Faro at 
Meaux on two occasions, and the 
subject is certainly referred to in 
poems which are older or at least 
of equal antiquity with the >Sio?igr 
of the Saxons, for example The Four 
Sons of Aymon, in which Charle- 
magne is made to refer to the 
summoning of the men of Herupe 
and the conquest of GuitecUn. 

SOTE. In the Icelandic Saga of 
Frithjof (q.v.), the Viking who stole 
Wayland's aimlet from Thorsten. 

SOUDAN. ( Vide " Guy of Warwick.") 
Saracen emperor. He besieged 
Greece, but was defeated by Emis, 
who obtained the assistance of Sir 
Guy. Sir Guy afterwards cut off 
his head, and carried it to Emis. 

SPES, LADY. (F»(ie"GrettirSaga.") 
She ransomed Thorstein Dromond 
(q.v.), Grettir's brother, from 
prison and death, and finally 
wedded him. 

STARN. In Irish romance son of 
Sera (q.v.), brother of Partholan 
(q.v.), original father of Tuan 
MacCarell (q.v.). 

STEIN (1). (Vide " Grettir Saga.") 
The priest of Sandheaps whose 
homestead was rid of the spirits 
which haunted it by Grettir. 



STEIN (2). The lawman who suc- 
ceded Skapti, who figures in the 
same tale. 

STORY OF BEYOND THE SEA. A 

French romance of the twelfth 
century. A certain Count of 
Ponthieu had a very fair daughter 
and by his second wife a son. In 
the same county there dwelt at 
the same time a dame of Dommare 
who had a noble and much beloved 
son, named Thibault. This youth 
was heir to the Count of St.' Pol, 
but without inheritance during his 
uncle's lifetime. But his valiant 
bearing won him a post in the 
household of the Count of Pon- 
thieu ; and his lord prospering 
through this servant's prowess 
rewarded him with the hand of his 
daughter. For five years the pair 
hved happily ; but at the end of 
that period they set out for the 
shrine of St. James, the Apostle of 
Spain, to pray him to send them 
a child. The road lay through a 
dangerous forest, and the lady and 
her lord entering that forest alone 
were sorely insulted by robbers. 
The lady was shamed, and in her 
madness and anger sought to slay 
the knight. But he returned 
home with her, having honoured 
St. James, and treated her as 
gently and honourably as before. 
All these sore mishaps during his 
pilgrimage the Count of Ponthieu 
heard from his son-in-law ; and in 
his wrath thrust his lovely daughter 
into a tub, secured the top of it 
and cast it into the sea. A Flanders 
merchantman came in the tub's 
path. These traders with the 
Saracen hoisted the tub on board ; 
and seeing the lady gain fresh life 
and beauty with their care and 
nurture, gifted the Soudan of 
Ammaire with this lovely prize. 
In return he greatly forwarded 
their business. The lady abjured 



SUA 



her faith and was wedded to the 
paynim lord. For two and a half 
years these two hved in happiness, 
rejoicing in their little son and 
daughter. Meantime the lady's 
father, husband, and brother 
sorrowed greatly for her fate ; and 
securing each the cross upon their 
mantles made devout pilgrimage 
to all the sacred places in the Holy 
Land. Then having served for a 
year in the Temple, they took 
ship at Acre for the return journey. 
Fate, however, sent a storm, which 
cast them into the hands of the 
Soudan. In grievous phght they 
were all three, since they had 
so firmly bound themselves to- 
gether during the storm, that 
they were taken together and 
thrown into the same dungeon. 
The Soudan, as was the pajmim 
wont, in celebrating his birthday 
granted his people any captive 
they wished as a target for their 
arrows. One after another these 
three unhappy Frenchmen were 
demanded as the people's prize ; 
but the Sultana, knowing her 
captives, sought them as gifts from 
her lord . The people were satisfied 
with another of the French captives. 
Now, having cautiously disclosed 
her identity to her prisoners, she 
schemed for their and her deliver- 
ance. Her Christian husband she 
sent to the wars with the Soudan, 
where he acquitted himself so 
gloriously that he gained his 
favour. Then falling iU with child 
she requested permission to breathe 
her native air, as her condition 
demanded it. Therefore, having 
received leave to sail to France 
and to take her three captives and 
her little son with her, she landed 
at Brindisi. A message was sent 
back to the Soudan that she would 
not return. All five then sought 
absolution of the Pontiff at Rome ; 
and the bishop christened the 



344 SUP 

child WilUam, and remarried Thi- 
bault and Ponthieu's daughter. 
In time Wilham married the 
daughter of Raoul des Preause and 
became Lord of Preause ; Count 
Ponthieu's son died ; Thibault and 
his lady had two sons who became 
heirs to the realms of Ponthieu 
and St. Pol ; the daughter of the 
Soudan was wedded to a brave 
Turk, Malakin of Baudas. This 
lady gave birth to the mother of the 
Sultan Saladin, a courteous, wise, 
honourable and conquering lord. 

SUALTAM. Father of Cuchullin in 
Irish romance. After the carnage 
of Murthemne {vide " Cuchul- 
lin "), he took the Grey of Macha, 
his son's matchless steed, and 
attempted to rouse the province 
of Ulster. But as he rode through 
the land, crying that its inhabitants 
were in the direst peril through 
immediate invasion, the people 
only stared at him stupidly as even 
did King Cathbad and his court. 
In wrath Sualtam turned his horse's 
head to leave the royal precincts, 
when the animal stumbled, and 
Sualtam's neck coming into sharp 
contact with his shield, his head 
was shorn off and fell to the ground. 
But even then it continued to 
exhort Cathbad and his peers to 
take immediate action if Ulster 
was to be saved, until the " curse 
of Ulster," the stupidity and 
glamour which had been put upon 
the people by Macha (q.v.) was 
lifted, and Conor rose and sware a 
mighty oath to " restore every 
woman to her hearth and every 
cow to its byre." 

SUPPINABILES, SIR. A knight of 
Brittany. He paid a visit to 
England during Tristram's so- 
journ in Brittany, and returned 
to relate the scandal about Tris- 
tram at Arthur's court. {Vide 
" Morte d'Arthur.") 



SVE 345 

SVEIN. {Vide " Gunnlaug Saga.") 
Co-ruler of Norway with his 
brother Yarl Eric. 

SWANHILD (1). {Vide " Volsungs.") 
Daughter of Gudrun {q.v.). She 
was betrothed to King Jormunrek 
{q.v.). On her voyage to his court 
she fell in love with Randver 
{q.v.), but on their arrival, she and 
her lover were put to death by the 
king. 

SWANHILD (2). ( FicZe " Dietrich of 
Bern.") Second wife of King 
Ermenrich {q.v.). She met death 
at the hands of her husband, who, 
at the suggestion of his marshal 
Sibich {q.v.), trampled her under 
his horse. 

SYR DEGORE, An English romance 
probably of the thirteenth cen- 
tury. It recounts how a king's 
daughter of England who is ex- 
tremely beautiful, is asked in 
marriage by the monarchs of 
various kingdoms. Her father 
publishes it abroad that only he 
who can unhorse him at a tourna- 
ment will be adjudged worthy of 
the lady. The suitors all prove 
unsuccessful in this. During a 
journey to his wife's tomb the 
king, whose daughter accom- 
panies him, loses her. She has 
strayed into the forest, and has 
there encountered a knight, who 
prevails over her chastity, and at 
parting gives her a sword without 
a point and a pair of gloves which 
will fit no hands but her own. 
(Compare the myths of Hercules 
and CuchulUn.) At length she 
finds the road to her father's 
castle, where she is dehvered of a 
boy. She places him in a cradle, 
with money and the gloves given 
her by the stranger knight along 
with a letter, and consigns him to 
one of her maidens who leaves him 
in a wood near a hermitage. The 



SYR 

hermit discovers the infant in the 
morning, reads the letter, educates 
him until the age of twenty years, 
and then sends him into the world, 
giving him the gloves, which he 
tells him will fit no lady but his 
mother. The youth, who is called 
Degore, sets out in search of 
adventure, and saves an earl from 
a terrible dragon, which he slays. 
The earl invites him to his palace, 
dubs him knight, supplies him 
with a horse and armour, and offers 
him half his territory. Sir Degore 
refuses this offer unless the gloves 
which he has received from the 
hermit will fit any lady of the 
court. But they will fit none of 
them. He proceeds on his way, 
and meets with a large train of 
knights who, he is informed, are 
going to tourney with the king of 
England who would give his 
daughter to that knight who could 
conquer him in single combat. Sir 
Degore accompanies them, over- 
throws the king, and obtains the 
princess. He marries her, but im- 
mediately after the ceremony he 
bethinks him of the gloves, and 
tries them on her hands. She 
draws them on with the greatest 
ease, declares to Degore that he is 
her son, and gives him an account 
of his birth. Giving Degore his 
father's pointless sword, she puts 
it into his mind to find his sire. 
He sets forward on this search, 
and on the way comes to a 
castle, where he is entertained by 
fifteen beautiful damsels. The 
lady of the castle tries every 
artifice to tempt him to remain, 
but to no avail. Degore rejects 
all her temptations, and proceeds 
on his journey. In a forest he 
meets a knight richly accoutred, 
who asks him why he has presumed 
to enter his forest without per- 
mission. They fight, and the 
strange knight observing the 



TAI 



346 



curious sword carried by his 
adversary, calls a halt. He fits 
the sword to a point which he had 
always kept, and which had for- 
merly broken off in an encounter 
with a giant. By this circum- 
stance he discovers Degore to be 
his son. They both return to 
England, and Sir Degore's father 
is married to the princess, his 
mother. This romance bears a 
close resemblance to various 
world-tales more or less well 
known. The pledges or tokens 
given by the stranger knight to 



TAN 

his lady-love are reminiscent of 
those bestowed on their mistresses 
by Hercules, Abraham, and the 
father of CuchuUin. The marriage 
of the son to his mother is parallel 
to some degree in the myth of 
CEdipus, and the combat between 
son and sire is of widespread 
character, being found in the tales 
of Sohrab and Rustem, and the 
Hildebrandeslied. (Vide "Dietrich 
of Bern.") The romance was 
printed by one WiUiam Copeland 
in 1560. 



TAIN BO CUAILGNE (thawn bo 
quelgny). The Cattle Raid of 
Quelgny. (Fitfe "Maev.") 

TALTIU or TELTA. Daughter of 
the King of the Land of the Dead, 
and wife of Eochy Mac Ere, a 
Firbolg (q.v.) Mng. In Irish 
legend she is spoken of as having 
a palace at TeUtown, called after 
her, where in the middle ages a 
great fair was annually held. 

TANNHAUSER. A German legend 
of the middle ages once popular in 
ballad form, and sung in the 
district of EntUbuch as late as the 
year 1830. The story may be 
traced in its Hterary form as far 
back as the fourteenth century. 
But it is obvious from its details 
that it possesses a far greater 
antiquity. It recounts the adven- 
tures of a minnesinger or minstrel, 
who, in the course of his wander- 
ings, comes to the Horselberg or 
hill of Venus, into which he is 
invited to enter, and where he 
remains for a space wallowing in 
the Joys of Hell, and forgetful of 
his better nature. In time, how- 
ever, he becomes aware of the 



wickedness in which he is dwelling, 
and quits the court of Venus. 
With the object of obtaining 
absolution for his sins he travels 
to Rome, and seeks mercy from 
Pope Urban IV. But the Pope 
tells him that the papal staff he 
holds might blossom as soon as 
mercy be extended to such a siimer 
as he. Tannhauser in despair 
returns to Venus. But three days 
afterwards the Pope's staff 
blossoms, and he sends messengers 
to every country in the hope of 
saving the minstrel. But to no 
avaU, for he cannot be found. As 
has been indicated, the story 
possesses a mythological basis. It 
is connected with the Horselbei^ 
near Eisenach, in which the Lady 
Holda, a German earth-goddess, 
later confounded with Venus, was 
supposed to dwell. As in the 
similar legend of Thomas the 
Rhymer (q.v.), we have in the 
HSrselberg, or the ErcUdoun of 
the Scots seer, the berg, hill, or 
doun of the moon-goddess Ursula. 
The goddess of night is always 
regarded as a being of singular 
beauty and seductive power. It 



TAS 



347 



is evident that we have, then, to 
deal with an ancient pagan myth 
on which has been superimposed a 
later legend, coloured by modem 
or mediseval and Christian 
thought, and the original hero of 
which has been displaced by a hero 
of later popularity. Tannhauser 
was a veritable minnesinger of the 
middle of the thirteenth century, 
who resided at the court of the 
Austrian duke Frederick II., the 
Quarrelsome. On the death of 
that prince he attached himself to 
Duke Otto II. of Bavaria, and 
having Uved prodigally, was forced 
to lead a wandering existence. He 
was highly in favour among the 
minnesingers of his time, and his 
restless and intemperate life seems 
to have marked him out as a 
probable hero for such an adventure 
as has been attributed to him. He 
was the author of many baUads of 
considerable excellence, which are 
pubUshed in the second part of 
the Minnesinger (collection by 
Von der Hagen, Eeipsic, 1838), and 
in the sixth volume of Haupt's 
Zeifschrift fur deutsches Alterthum, 
Eeipsic, 1848. 

lAteratwe: The version of the 
legend which may be regarded as 
the most authentic is that given in 
Uhland's Alte, hack und nieder- 
deutsche Volkslieder (Stuttgart, 
1845). See also Kommann, Mona 
Veneris, Frankfort, 1614 ; Grasse, 
Die Sage, vom Bitter Tannhamser 
(Dresden and Eeipsic, 1846). See 
also the allusions in Grimm and the 
Heldenhuch. 

TASSO, TORQUATO. Descendant of 
the illustrious house of the Torre- 
giani, was bom at Sorento, on 
March 11th, 1544. His father 
Bernardo Tasso, was a faithful 
adherent of Ferrante of San- 
feverina, prince of Salerno. He 
was also a man of literary ability. 



TAS 

for he wrote in prose and verse ; 
a gift his son inherited in a 
more marked degree. Torquato's 
mother was Portia di Rossi, who 
was also of good parentage. 
Young Tasso showed early signs of 
genius, and was committed to the 
care of Manritio Catanio, who 
assiduously cultivated his pupil's 
studious tastes. After the death 
of Sanfeverina, Bernardo returned 
to Italy, and entered the service of 
Guglielmo Gonzaga, duke of 
Mantua. Shortly after, his wife 
died, and Bernardo sent his son 
to the University of Padua. 
While stiU a student at Padua, he 
wrote the poem of Einaldo, which 
was publisher^ in his eighteenth 
year. This initial success decided 
him in his poetical career : a 
decision which offended his father, 
who had hoped that his son might 
turn his studies to a more profit- 
able market. While at Padua, 
Tasso formed the design of his 
celebrated poem "Jerusalem De- 
livered " {q.v.). He finished it a 
few years later while residing at 
the palace of his patron, the Duke 
of Ferrara ; but in the interval he 
had pubUshed a pastoral poem 
called "Arminta." Tasso was 
in his thirtieth year when he 
completed Jerusalem Delivered, 
but it was to his lasting regret 
prematurely printed by his patron, 
and before he had time to make 
the final corrections. The poem 
met with great success, and was 
translated into several languages. 
The drop of bitterness in his cup 
of elation was the death of his 
father at Mantua. After this, 
good fortune seemed to desert 
him. His Jerusalem Delivered was 
severely censured, and the aca- 
demy of Crusca pubhshed a 
scathing criticism on the poem. 
Becoming entangled in an affair 
of honour, he was arrested by the 



TAW 



348 



THI 



Duke of Ferrara. After a year's 
imprisonment, he effected his 
escape, and fled to Turin. He was 
discovered by the Duke of Savoy, 
who showed him great kindness. 
Being suspicious of his friendship, 
he set out for Rome, where he 
stayed with his old friend, Man- 
ritio Catanio. Desirous of be- 
holding his native country, he 
journeyed to Sorrento, where he 
stayed some time with a widowed 
sister. In the hope of obtaining 
his writings, which were in the 
duke's possessions, he again re- 
turned to Ferrara. But his 
attempts to do so were futile, and 
he was imprisoned for seven years, 
and nearly lost his reason. The 
only apparent motive for the 
duke's harsh treatment was that 
Tasso had aspired to the hand of 
the princess Leonora, the duke's 
sister. On his release, he stayed 
for some time at Naples, and also 
at Bifaccio, where his melancholy 
took the form as was then 
thought of possession by a famihar 
spirit. He afterwards returned to 
Naples, where he composed and 
pubhshed his poem Jerusalem 
Conquered. Tasso was now feted 
and welcomed by the high digni- 
taries of the Church of Rome, and 
the pope granted him the honour 
of being crowned with laurel in 
the Capitol. He had a foreboding 
that the ceremony would not take 
place, a presage which came 
true ; for in the midst of the pre- 
parations he was seized with a 
fatal illness. He died at Rome in 
his fifty-second year, and was 
buried in the church of St. Oim- 
phrius, 1595. 

TA WLESS. The Giant kiUed by Tris- 
tram [q.v.) during the latter's 
period of insanity. (Vide "Morte 
d'Arthur.") 

TERRIBLE, THE. ( Vide " Briccriu.") 



TERRY, SIR. {Vide " Sir Otuel.") 
A knight of Charlemagne. He 
along with Sir Baldwin heard 
Roland's horn and finding him 
dying in the forest of Roncesvalles, 
attended to him. 

THEODORIC THE OSTROGOTH. ( Vide 
" Dietrich of Bern.") 

THIBAUT. {Vide " Garin the Lor- 
rainer.") Knight of Plaissis. He 
had hoped to marry Beatrice, and 
when he heard of the marriage to 
Bego he determined to lay an 
ambush for them on their way 
home from Blaives. A pilgrim 
having warned Bego, he prepared 
as far as possible, but he was out- 
numbered and was severely 
wounded. Unless help had come 
to Bego he would indeed have been 
slain. Thibaut was present at 
Lens when a forester brought him 
news of Bego whom he had seen in 
the forest, and he joined the men 
who went out to Mil him. Fro- 
mont put Thibaut in prison for 
this, but Wilham of Montclin 
pleaded for him as he was a kins- 
man. Wilham of Blanchf ort after- 
wards freed the prisoners. Thibaut 
was killed by Hemaud in battle. 

THIDREKS SAGA. A prose version 
of the " Dietrich of Bern Saga- 
cycle " {q.v.), written in Icelandic 
in the middle of the thirteenth 
century from poems and tales then 
current in Germany, and later re- 
edited and extended by another 
hand. Commencing with Die- 
trich's ancestry, we are given the 
history of his youth and Ms f riend- 
sMp with Hildebrand, and how he 
forced the dwarf Alberich to give 
Mm Ms sword Nagelring, and Uke 
deeds of emprise. The story then 
digresses to include the Wilkina 
Saga, a group of tales concerning 
the Sclavomc monarch WilMna. 
This is followed by the Wayland 



THI 



Smith legend {q.v.), Wayland or 
Wailand being the grandson of 
Wilkina. The birth of Witege, 
Wayland's son, is described, and 
we return to the story of Dietrich. 
Witege comes to Bern to challenge 
Dietrich. He receives the magic 
sword Mimung from Hildebrand, 
and is on the point of worsting 
Dietrich when Hildebrand inter- 
venes, and Witege remains at the 
court of Bern as Dietrich's friend. 
Dietrich, smarting under his defeat, 
rides forth alone on adventure 
bound, and after vanquishing two 
giants slays an elephant and a 
dragon. We next find Dietrich, 
like Arthur, the central figure of a 
court to which heroes eager for 
fame arrive in large numbers. 
Dietrich Joins Attila in a war 
against Santrix, King of Wilkina- 
land, and later undertakes other 
similar expeditions. Still another 
digression deals with the youthful 
adventures of Siegfried {q.v.), the 
hero of the Nibelungenlied. Hearing 
that Siegfried is at the court of 
Isung, King of Bertangaland, 
Dietrich challenges him to a series 
of combats between his own and 
Isung's heroes. For two days 
Dietrich and Siegfried fight, but 
on the third Dietrich employs the 
magic sword Mimung, and over- 
comes him, whereupon Siegfried 
becomes his henchman. At this 
point a number of minor interludes 
are introduced, such as the stories 
of Herbort and Hilda, Walter of 
Aquitaine {q.v.), and Hildegund, and 
so forth. When the saga is once 
more resumed it is told how 
Ermenrich, the uncle of Dietrich, 
having dishonoured the wife of 
one Sibecke, that person contrived 
the deaths of Ermenrich's three 
sons and two nephews by means of 
false accusations. He instigates 
Ermenrich to requtest Dietrich to 
pay him tribute as a test of his I 



349 THI 

loyalty as a nephew. Dietrich 
refuses, and Ermenrich marches 
an army against him. Dietrich 
flies to the court of Attila, and 
engages in many expeditions on 
behalf of the Hunnish monarch. 
After an exile of a score of years, 
Attila provides him with an army 
which defeats that of Ermenrich, 
at the cost of the death of his 
younger brother and Attila 's two 
sons. Once more the dramatis 
personce of the Nibelungenlied 
(q.v.) are brought upon the scene. 
This digression commences with 
the quarrel between Brunhild and 
Kriemhild and the incidents sur- 
rounding the death of Siegfried 
are recounted. Dietrich holds 
aloof from the schemes of Kiiem- 
hild, but when his companion 
Riidiger is slain, he sides against 
the Burgundians and takes Hagen, 
their last survivor. 

Returning to Berne mourning 
the loss of all his men save Hilde- 
brand, they hear of the death of 
Ermenrich. Dietrich regains his 
throne at last, and the remainder 
of the saga deals with extravagant 
adventures, ending with the deaths 
of its principal characters. 



THIERRY, SIR. ( Vide " Guy of War- 
wick.") A knight who served 
under the Duke of Lorraine. He 
was in love with Osile, daughter of 
the duke and was carrying her off 
when he was attacked by men sent 
by Duke Otho and nearly killed. 
He was rescued by Sir Guy, who 
befriended him and carried him 
through the many adventures he 
and Osile experienced before they 
were eventually married, and re- 
conciled to the duke. He after- 
wards lost his possessions, and 
being met by Sir Guy fell asleep 
beside him. A white weasel came 
out of his mouth, went to a rock 
near, then came back and ran 



THI 

down his throat again. Sir Guy 
went to the same spot as the weasel 
and found a sword and treasure 
which he gave to Thierry, and 
afterwards fought for him and got 
him reinstated. 

THIERRY, KING OF SAVOY. Men- 
tioned in Garin the Lorrainer. Four 
Moorish kings besieged Savoy, and 
he appealed to Pepin for help 
which was at first refused. But 
four young knights persuaded 
Pepin to let them go. He agreed, 
and gave the command to the two 
Lorrainers. The Saracens were 
defeated, but King Thierry was 
fatally wounded. When dying, 
he grieved that his daughter was 
not married, and as he considered 
that Garin had saved his country, 
he asked him to espouse her, 
which Garin agreed to do, with 
Pepin's consent. 

THOLOMES, KING. In Grail ro- 
mance, he wars successfully against 
Evelach {q.v.), whom he takes 
prisoner, and defeats his army. 
The White Knight appears on 
the scene and performs prodigies 
of valour, overcomes Tholomes, 
rescues Evelach, whose armies 
become victorious. 

THOMAS. A mediaeval English 
author, sometimes known as 
Thomas of Brittany. He is re- 
membered by his metrical versions 
of King Horn and Tristan and 
Iseult, but nothing is recorded con- 
cerning his life, while even the 
period at which he hved has never 
been determined, some authorities 
placing him in the second half 
of the thirteenth century, but 
others holding that he belongs to 
the reign of Richard I., who was 
crowned in 1189. He wrote in 
French, and the style and tenor 
of his output proclaim him to have 
been influenced by the French 



350 THO 

romance Adenes le Roi ; but his 
own nationahty is matter for con- 
jecture, and the hkeUhood is that, 
like several other English authors 
of the middle ages, he emanated 
from a family which had come to 
England in the train of some Nor- 
man baron. It has frequently 
been suggested that he was the 
original author of King Horn, but 
it is probable that long ere the 
advent of Thomas the tale was 
famihar throughout England, and 
that his work consisted simply in 
gleaning it orally and writing it 
down, at the same time augment- 
ing it. A certain popularity 
would seem to have been gained by 
his version, for numerous mediaeval 
manuscript copies are extant, one 
being in the Cambridge University 
Library and one in the Harleian 
collection in the British Museum ; 
while another is among the vast 
batch of manuscripts bequeathed 
to the Bodleian Eibrary by Francis 
Donee (1757-1834), and the story 
was printed from the latter by 
Joseph Ritson in Early English 
jRomawc&s, 1802. The manuscripts 
which Donee left behind him at 
death also included a copy of 
Thomas's Tristan and Iseult, but, 
by some curious mischance, this 
did not find its way into the 
Bodleian although the Ubrary 
was its legitimate legatee. The 
present domicile of this docu- 
ment is unknown, but at one 
time it passed through the hands 
of the French historian, Francisque 
Michel, who had it duly printed 
and pubhshed along with a preface 
from his own pen, 1835. A good 
deal shorter than most other 
versions of the story, Thomas's 
Tristan nevertheless enjoyed con- 
siderable vogue in the author's 
time, and it is supposed to have 
been laid under contribution by a 
number of immediately subsequent 



THO 



writers on the theme, sahent 
among these being the German 
romancer, Gottfried von Strass- 
burg (fl. 1310). He avows a debt 
to one Thomas of Brittany, and 
hence the frequent bestowal of 
that name on the EngUsh Thomas, 
but it is possible that they were 
two wholly difEerent men. 

THOMAS A READING, THE 
PLEASANT HISTORIE OF. This 
prose tale, dating probably from 
Ehzabethan times, recounts the 
doings of the fraternity of tailors 
and clothiers in the reign of 
Henry I. It possesses but little 
central plot, and consists of a 
series of episodes connected with 
the several members of the con- 
fraternity and their wives. So far 
from the portion which recounts 
the doings of Thomas, the tailor 
of Reading, being " pleasant," it 
deals with the rather melodramatic 
circumstances surrounding his mur- 
der by the host and hostess of an 
inn where he lodges, who precipi- 
tate him from his bed in an upper 
chamber through a trap-door into 
a brewing-tub full of boiling water 
which stands in the kitchen 
beneath. The tale well exempli- 
fies the Elizabethan rage for mur- 
der-stories, and, save for a goodly 
spice of mother-wit, is common- 
place and rather rambling in tone, 
much resembling the chap-book 
type of story. 

THOMASSIN VON ZITCLARIA. An 

ecclesiastic and poet who lived 
about the end of the twelfth cen- 
tury. Though bearing a German 
name, and writing in 'German, he 
was a native of Aquil6c in Frioul. 
The work by which he is re- 
membered is Der Welsche Gast, a 
poem of almost fifteen thousand 
verses ; and, apart from its 
literary worth, it is valuable as 
being typical of the High-German 



351 THO 

speech of the author's time, and 
more particularly for the vast 
amount of information it contains 
concerning feudal manners and 
customs. Among the people who 
figure therein is Walther von der 
Vogelweide, a minnesinger whose 
name is universally familiar on 
account of Longfellow's poem 
about him. 

Literature : See the edition of 
Der Welsche Gast annotated by 
Ruckert (1852), and also Zeit- 
schrift fur Deutsche Philologie, vol. 
ii. p. 431. 

THORBIORN ANGLE. ( Ftci!e " Gret- 
tir Saga.") A bonder who bought 
up all the island of Drangey, and 
sought by promises, threats, and 
craft, to wrest it from Grettir. 
At last, by the assistance of his 
witch foster-mother Thurid, he 
came upon the great Icelandic 
outlaw, and with Old Karr's sword 
smote off Grettir's head. But this 
murder was a-venged upon him by 
Thorstein Dromond {q.v.), Grettir's 
brother. 

THORBIORN THE TARDY. {Vide 
" Grettir Saga.") Icelandic sailor. 
A braggart who, by jeering at 
Asmund, Grettir's father, provoked 
the son to slay him. 

THORBIORN OXMAIN. ( Vide " Gret- 
tir Saga.") Brother of Thorbiom 
the Tardy (q.v.). He avenged the 
death of his brother by Grettir 
upon that hero's brother, Atli. 
He knocked one harvest eve upon 
Ath's door, all being from home 
save the son and his mother 
Asdis ; then hiding upon one side, 
he pierced the unsuspecting Atli 
with his spear. But during the 
outlawry of Grettir, Thorbiom and 
his son Amor were slain by him. 

THORD. {Vide " Gunnlaug Saga.") 
A son of a Hraunhaven farmer, 
who challenged Gunnlaug and his 



THO 



352 



THO 



companions to a wrestling match. 
The victorious Gunnlaug sprained 
his ankle, however, and was thus 
delayed in keeping his tryst with 
Helgi {q.v.). 

THORFINN. { Vide " Grettir Saga.") 
Lord of the Island of Haramsey. 
He harboured Grettir who slew by 
a trick twelve berserks that had 
come in his host's absence to rob 
his homestead and carry off his 
womenfolk. This kindness Thor- 
finn never forgot, and paid for 
Grettir several blood-fines. 

THORGEIR. {Vide "Burnt NJal.") 
A kinsman of a man slain by 
Gunnar (q.v.). Desiring to avenge 
this man's death Thorgeir sought 
the advice of Mord (q.v.). Now 
this cunning feUow knew that NJal 
had warned his friend not to slay 
twice in the same stock. He there- 
fore advised Thorgeir to work 
upon the son of the dead OtkeU 
(q.v,), slain by Gunnar, to avenge 
his father's death. Gunnar's end 
was near, for he slew the youth. 

THORGERD. (Vide " Gunnlaug 
Saga.") Sister of Thorstein 
Egilson. Privy to her sister- 
in-law Jofrid's deception, she, 
gave her brother's child Helga 
to a woman on her homestead to 
be brought up ; and presented the 
maiden to her father when six 
years old. Thorstein then took 
the child to his heart and his home. 

THORHALL. (Vide " Grettir Saga.") 
The owner of the haunted farm in 
Waterdale, Iceland. 

THORHALLA. ( Vide " Burnt Njal.") 
Wife of Helgi (q.v.), Njal's youngest 
son. 

THORIR (1). (Vide " Grettir Saga.") 
Chief of the berserks who intended 
to steal the womenfolk of Thorfinn 
in his absence. 



THORIR (2) OF GARTH. (Also in 
" Grettir Saga.") Father of the 
men who were accidentally burned 
in their refuge-house by Grettir. 

THORIR (3) OF THE PASS. (Also in 
" Grettir Saga.") Father of Gun- 
nar and Thorgeir, who were slain 
by AtU in self-defence. 

THORKEL. (Vide " Grettir Saga.") 
Son of the dead Old Karr (q.v.), 
and one time host of Grettir. 

THORN, THE LAY OF. A lai of 

Brittany, written by Marie de 
France (q.v.). A certain king in 
Brittany had a son. This child 
dearly loved his step-mothej-'s 
daughter, and she returned his 
love, which time changed into a 
stronger and deeper affection. 
The pair were found clasped in 
each other's arms when the queen 
shut up her daughter, whom she 
reprimanded with the greatest 
severity. Unable to endure his 
friend's grief and imprisonment, 
the prince sought knighthood of 
his father and leave to depart to 
a foreign land. This the king 
granted, but prayed him to stay 
yet a year about the court that 
he might assist at tournaments. 
During this time neither prince 
nor princess had sight of each other. 
Eight days before the Feast of 
St. John, the prince was dubbed 
knight. The king spent the day 
at the chase, and after the evening 
feast listened to the minstrel's 
songs. In the company was a 
maiden who told of an adventure 
that awaited the bold at the Ford 
of the Thorn upon St. John's Eve. 
The young knight desired to 
achieve this adventure, and this 
news reached the ears of his friend. 
Stealing to the orchard she sat 
upon the roots of a tree and prayed 
God to help him. Then she fell 
into a sleep several times, and at 



THO 



353 



last was borne by strange means 
to the Ford of the Thorn. Here 
she beheld her knight, who at first 
did not recognize her. At the ford 
he won a red-eared white steed 
from a red-armoured lord, and 
jousted with two other knights, to 
his own glory. With the maiden 
he returned to his father, related 
his adventures, and the loving pair 
were wed. 

THOROLD, SIR. ( Vide " Guy of War- 
wick.") A brave knight who 
accompanied Sir Guy on his 
travels. He was killed in the 
fight with the Italians. 

THOROM. ( Vide " Gunnlaug Saga.") 
A powerful robber of London, who 
borrowed money from Gunnlaug, 
having no intention of returning it. 
Gunnlaug then did battle with 
Thorom, and with King Athelred's 
gift, a sword that was proof against 
witchcraft, slew him. 

THORSTEIN DROMOND. {Vide 

"Grettir Saga.") The second 
brother of Grettir. He scarcely 
figures in the saga until we meet 
him seeking out Thorbiom Angle. 
Having slain him and thus avenged 
Grettir's foul death, Thorstein 
was cast into prison to await 
capital punishment. But his 
cheery singing attracted Eady Spes 
{q.v.), who ransomed him, and 
having cleverly brought about a 
divorce from her husband, finally 
wed with her lover. Both by 
common consent ended their days 
in a penitential cell in Rome. 

THORSTEIN EGILSON. (Fiie " Gunn- 
laug Saga.") Father of Helga, 
husband of Jodfrid. One night 
he had a dream, to the effect that 
upon his house-roof there sat a 
lovely white swan. From the 
north there flew an eagle, black of 
eye, which cooed lovingly to her. 
Then from the south came another 



THO 

eagle, and he too sought her love ; 
whereupon, the rivals fought 
fiercely together until both fell 
dead, leaving the swan sad and 
lonely. Thorstein's friend, the 
skipper of a merchant ship, inter- 
preted the dream thus. The swan 
was his friend's daughter, to be 
bom to him, and the eagles two 
youths who would contend for her 
love. Hl-pleased at such a reading 
of his dream, Thorstein com- 
manded his wife to nurture their 
unborn infant if it were a man- 
child, but to cast it forth if it were 
a woman-child. But the mother 
could not renounce the little 
maiden, and sent her to Thor- 
stein's sister Thorgerd. The in- 
fant was given to a woman on the 
sister's homestead to be nourished ; 
and at the age of six was presented 
by Thorgerd to her father, who at 
once loved the beautiful child. 
Thorstein thanked his wife and 
sister for their deception, and 
carried the child home with him. 

THORSTEN. ( Vide " Frithjof Saga.") 
Father of Frithjof {q.v.) ; thane and 
friend of King Bell. 

THRAIN. {Vide "Burnt Njal.") 
Son-in-law of Hallgerda {q.v.). He 
brought upon Grim and Helgi, 
NJal's sons, much trouble on 
account of Hrapp {q.v.), a felon 
whom he succoured against their 
wishes. The brothers made peace 
with the king, and thus added to 
Hrapp's hatred of them that of 
Thrain. Both Thrain and Hrapp, 
however, were slain by Njal's 
sons. 

THREE KINGS OF COLOGNE. The 

three Magi, called Gaspar, Mel- 
chior, and Balthazar. They are 
alluded to by other names, but 
those given are the most generally 
accepted. They are supposed to 
be those " Bangs of the East " who 
2 A 



THR 

appeared at the birth of our 
Saviour, and skulls said to be 
theirs are preserved in Cologne 
Cathedral. 

THREE KINGS ' SONS, THE. A prose 
romance translated from the 
French in forty-five chapters. 
The three kings' sons are Philip of 
France, Humphrey of England, 
and David of Scotland. Philip 
leaves his father — King Charles — 
secretly and serves against the 
Grand Turk under Ferant the 
seneschal of the King of Sicily. 
Phihp calls himself "La Des- 
puriieu," but the Princess lolante 
of Sicily gives him the title of 
"Le Sumome." The King of 
Sicily appeals for help, and com- 
panies of French, EngUsh, and 
Scottish troops are sent to his aid 
under David of Scotland. David, 
however, is shipwrecked and falls 
into the hands of the Turks, but 
he escapes and serves under 
Ferant, calling himself " Athis." 
Humphrey is also led to Join the 
same service, and takes the name 
of " Ector." The King of SicUy 
is elected Emperor of Germany. 
The Turks are defeated : the 
Grand Turk turns Christian and 
marries the sister of Humphrey, 
King of England ; but after his 
death his people retract from their 
allegiance. He leaves no children. 
A tournament is held for the 
hand of lolante, and Philip now 
becomes the King of France and 
marries the princess. 

The French MS. was transcribed 
at Hesdinin 1463 by David Aubert, 
librarian to PhiUp the Good, Duke 
of Burgundy. 

THURID. {Vide " Grettir Saga.") 
A witch and foster-mother of 
Thorbiom Angle (q.v.). Casting 
spells upon a tree-trunk, she sent 
it floating to Drangey Island, that 
Grettir might take it for firewood. 



354 TIT 

Several times he shunned the evil- 
looking log, but at last it was 
brought to the hut by his unwitting 
comrade Noise. As Grettir sought 
to hew it, his sword glanced flat- 
wise and struck him a ghastly 
wound in the thigh which proved 
dangerous, and rendered him help- 
less against his enemies. 

TIERNA. Abbot of Qomnacnois, in 
Ireland, an Irish historian who 
flourished in the eleventh century, 
and who critically separated the 
elements of romance and fact in 
Irish history. 

TIRRE. Son of Sir Bernard of Astolat 
(q.v.). (Vide "Morte d'Arthur.") 

TITUREL. A German Grail, ro- 
mance of the end of the thirteenth 
century, composed for the most 
part by Albrecht von Scharfenberg 
(q.v.). This romance, one of the 
most popular of the middle ages, 
and a masterpiece of poetry and 
piety, contains several pieces from 
two or three different poets. The 
most remarkable of these pieces 
are the fragments composed by 
Wolfram von Eschenbach for his 
poem Titurel, left tmfinished. As 
regards the details of the history 
of the Grail, Albrecht generally 
followed the fable invented by 
Guyot, and reproduced by Wol- 
fram ; but other details of his 
romance show that he was also 
acquainted with the version of 
Walter Mapes. Thus, in Albrecht's 
Titurel, the San Graal has not, as 
in Guyot, a purely symbohc signi- 
ficance, but is identified with the 
vessel of the Holy Supper. The 
sacerdotal and not the chivalric 
spirit preponderates in it. Ortho- 
doxy, asceticism, and intolerance 
towards the infidels are in striking 
contrast with the philosophic and 
concihatory spirit prevailing in 
the romance of the Angevin poet. 



TIT 



355 



Albrecht, above all, delights in 
developing the history of Prester 
John, and adorning it with all 
the prestige of his poetry. This 
history*, for which WoKram had 
but few data, and which, for this 
reason, he had only indicated in 
his Parzival, could now be con- 
siderably amphfied by means of 
the new information furnished to 
the poet by the reports of the 
Pope's legate and the French am- 
bassadors who had returned from 
the East. Jean du Plan de Carpin, 
of the order of the Minorites, had 
been sent by Pope Innocent IV. 
to Mongol Tartary, where he had 
stayed from 1245 to 1247. A new 
embassy, headed by the Franciscan 
friar WiUiam de Rubruquis had 
been sent to Mongolia by Saint 
Louis in 1253. Lastly, the reports 
of the celebrated travellers Nicolo 
Polo and Marco Polo perhaps also 
furnished Albrecht with some new 
and interesting details. He exerts 
his utmost talent to trace in the 
history of Prester John the brilliant 
picture of a true sacerdotal govern- 
ment, and we may say that, if 
Guyot depicted in his romance his 
ideal of chivalry, Albrecht von 
Scharfenberg endeavoured to ex- 
press his ideal, or perhaps the 
ideal which his age had conceived, 
of priesthood and ecclesiastical 
hierarchy. Moreover, this im- 
portant subject, which transported 
the reader into the land of wonders, 
to the centre of Asia, at the same 
time presented to the poet a 
favourable opportunity to exhibit 
his knowledge of geography, his- 
tory, and natural sciences — ^a kind 
of knowledge which he indeed 
possessed extensively, and of 
which, Mke most poets of the 
middle ages, he did not fail to be 
somewhat vain. The romance of 
Albrecht von Scharfenberg em- 
braces a more extensive area than 



TIT 

that of Wolfram von Esehenbach, 
without, however, being superior 
to the latter in conception or 
poetical execution. The following 
are the principal features that 
compose the romance of Titurel. 
PariUe, the son of Sennabor of 
Cappadocia, having embraced the 
Christian faith with his brothers 
and sisters, assists the Emperor 
Vespasian at the siege and capture 
of Jerusalem'. As a reward for 
his services, the emperor gives him 
his daughter ArgusiUa in marriage ; 
and moreover, gives him the king- 
dom of France in fief. PariUe has 
a son, Titurisone, wh6 marries 
Eligabel of Arragon. The son of 
Titurisone and Eligabel is called 
Titurel, a name composed and 
contracted from those of his father 
and mother. An angel from 
heaven announces that God has 
chosen Titurel to be the defender 
of the faith and the guardian of 
the San Graal. The youth receives 
an education at once pious and 
knightly, and after having fought 
with his father against the infidels 
in Spain, is conducted by angels 
to Montsalvagge. There he builds 
the magnificent chapel in which 
the San Graal, on descending from 
heaven, has placed itself of its own 
accord. Titurel marries the 
Princess Richoude of Spain ; he 
watches over the San Graal, and 
propagates the Christian faith 
among the infidels. When old, 
his son Frimutel is designated as 
the King of the Grail by an in- 
scription which appears on the 
sacred vase. Frimutel marries 
Clarissa of Grenada, and has five 
children by her. These are Am- 
fortas, who succeeds his father in 
the kingship of the Grail ; Trevri- 
zent, the wise hermit ; Tchoysiane, 
who becomes the mother of Sigune, 
and who dies on giving birth to 
this child ; Herzeloide, the mother 



TIT 

of Parzival ; and lastly, Urepanse 
de Joie, who marries Feirifiz, and 
becomes the mother of John the 
Priest. The beautiful Sigune is 
brought up at the court of her aunt 
Herzeloide, and betrothed to 
Tchionatulander. This young 
knight distinguishes himself in the 
East by his bravery, and stands 
in friendly relationship with the 
Knights of the Bound Table. He 
dehvers, conjointly with King 
Arthur, the kiiigdom of Canvoleis, 
invaded by the Duke Orilus, but 
is killed by this enemy in single 
combat. Sigune is inconsolable 
for the death of her betrothed ; 
she has his body embalmed, places 
it among the branches of a lime 
tree, and sits by it a prey to the 
most poignant grief. There her 
cousin Parzival finds her, and she 
informs him of the fault he com- 
mitted by his too great discretion 
at the banquet of the San Graal. 
Full of regret, Parzival desires to 
repair his fault ; after many efforts 
and many an adventure, he at 
last obtains the kingship of the 
Grail at Montsalvagge. In the 
mean time, the West, more and 
more given up to sin, is no longer 
worthy of possessing the sacred 
vase. Parzival thinks of trans- 
porting it to the East. He takes 
the San Graal, embarks at Mar- 
seilles with the Templois, and 
arrives at the court of his brother 
Feirifiz, in India. The latter 
draws an enchanting picture of 
the riches and sanctity of Prester 
John, who is the spiritual and 
temporal chief of a neighbouring 
country in India. Parzival con- 
sents to entrust this personage 
with the Grail ; but the sacred 
cup manifests the desire that 
Parzival should remain king, and 
only change his name into that 
of Prester John. Consequently, 
Parzival and the Temploia settle 



355 TOM 

in India ; they implore the San 
Graal that the palace and chapel 
of Montsalvagge be also trans- 
ported to India. Their prayer is 
granted ; on the following day 
both palace and chapel, miracu- 
lously transported through the air 
during the night, are placed more 
beautiful and brilhant in India, 
and the chapel again holds the 
sacred cup of the Grail. After the 
death of Parzival, the son of 
Feirifiz and Urepanse de Joie 
becomes Priest John. After the 
disappearance of the Grail in the 
West, King Arthur and the Knights 
of the Round Table go in search of 
it : they travel over the world, but 
in vain ; they cannot find it ; it 
is for ever hidden in the far East. 

TOM A LINCOLN, THE RED ROSE 
KNIGHT. An Ehzabethan prose 
romance detaiUng the adventures 
of Tom a Lincoln, a natural son of 
King Arthur. The king loved 
fair Angehca, the daughter of one 
of his earls, and the fruit of their 
love was Tom, who was transported 
at birth by the midwife to the hut 
of a poor shepherd who brought 
him up. The lad became such a 
mighty outlaw that the king sent 
for him, and, hearing that he was 
his own son, advanced him in his 
service, and gave him the com- 
mand of an army against the King 
of Portugal, who had murdered the 
British envoys at his court. Tom 
acquitted himself so well that he 
inflicted a severe defeat upon the 
Portuguese arms, and returned to 
London, where he received a notable 
welcome, and traversed the streets 
of the capital in triumph. Tom, 
on adventure bound, penetrated 
to fairy land, where he was royally 
entertained by the maiden queen 
of that realm, who bore him a 
son, as did her ladies to other 
of his knights. They departed, 



TOM 



357 



promising to return. The Red Rose 
Knight then journeyed to the court 
of Prester John (q.v.), and there 
slew a dragon which guarded a 
golden tree. He was accompanied 
in these adventures by Sir Lance- 
lot du Lake, one of his father's 
knights, to whom he confided that 
he loved the fair Anghtora, Prester 
John's daughter. Prester John 
would in no wise hearken to his 
suit, so Tom persuaded Anglitora 
to fly with him. They took ship 
from the realms of Prester John. 
CseUa, the Fairy Queen, beholding 
the siiip of the Red Rose Knight 
pass her island, and persuaded that 
he would not return, cast herself 
into the sea, and her drowned 
corpse was found floating on the 
waves by her former lover. On 
Caeha's body was found a letter ad- 
dressed to Tom a Lincoln, bidding 
him farewell. Her body was taken 
to England for sepulture. Coming 
to Pendragon Castle, Arthur's seat 
in Wales, Tom was gladly wel- 
comed by his father. The second 
part of the history relates how 
King Arthur on his death-bed told 
Tom the secret of his birth, and 
introduced him to AngeHca, his 
mother. Anghtora, his wife, 
ashamed of her marriage, returned 
secretly to her father's court with 
her son, the Black Knight. 
Arthur's Queen, Guinevere, in her 
hatred of Tom, issued a decree 
that no one should associate with 
him in all the realm. Making a 
vow that he would not cut his hair, 
he in bed, eat other food than 
bread, and have no other drink 
than water until he regained his 
lady's love, Tom set out to dis- 
cover her whereabouts. Mean- 
while Angehca, Tom's mother, Is 
put to death by order of Guinevere, 
who herself died shortly after. 
The Lady Anghtora, wandering in 
search of her father's dominions. 



TOM 

came to a certain castle, and 
became the mistress of its owner 
for seven years. The Black 
Knight gave himself to hunting, 
and so wild did he grow that he 
became a veritable Orson. Tom 
a Lincoln, encountering a black 
slave of Aiightora's, learned from 
him that she was hving in shame 
with the Knight of the Castle. 
Tom, proceeding to the castle, 
was met by his wife, who dis- 
sembled her knowledge of him, 
and sent him to a lowly chamber, 
where he was lodged. That night 
Anghtora and her paramour slew 
the Red Rose Knight, and buried 
his body in a dunghill. The spirit 
of Tom appeared to his son, the 
Black Knight, as he lay in the 
wilderness, and apprised him of 
his mother's crime, whereupon the 
Black Knight returned to the 
castle and slew his mother. 

The son of CseUa, Queen of 
Faerie and the Red Rose Knight, 
who was known as the Faeyrie 
Knight, Journeying in quest of 
adventure, encountered the Black 
Kjiight lying asleep upon his 
father's grave. Learning their 
relationship, they took quest to- 
gether, and came to a pagan city 
where they were imprisoned, but 
whence they escaped by making 
a rope of their hair and chmbing 
therewith over the walls. The 
Faeyrie Knight sustained severe 
injury by a fall, but, recovering, 
the brothers pursued their way, 
and eventually came to England, 
where they were gallantly enter- 
tained. They raised a fair abbey 
at Lincoln, their father's birth- 
place, where, after pious lives 
they were eventually laid in 
death. 

The romance is briskly told, and 
abounds in picturesque passages. 
But the Elizabethan spirit o 
tragedy and prohxity is present 



TOP 358 

throughout, and somewhat mars 
the story. 

TOPASE. ( Vide " Florice and Blanch- 
fleur.") Daughter to the Duke of 
Ferrarra, niece to the Duke of 
Milan, and wife of Prince Perse. 
She was the mother of Blanchfleur, 
and accompanied her husband to 
the shrine of Saint James. FeUx 
sent her to the court of his queen, 
where she gave birth to Blanch- 
fleur, dying shortly afterwards. 

TOR, SIR. Son of King Pellinore 
and the wife of Aries the cowherd, 
a knight of the court of King 
Arthur. He was slain by Sir 
Lancelot. (Fi£fe"Morted'Arthur.") 

TORRENT OF PORTUGAL. An Eng- 
Ush metrical romance of the fif- 
teenth century pubHshed in 1842 
by HaUiweU from an MS. in the 
Cheetham library at Manchester, 
very incorrectly written, and, from 
the number of blunders and omis- 
sions, conjectured to have been 
taken down from dictation. A 
few short fragments also exist in 
a printed edition in the Bodleian 
Library. No other copy of the 
romance is recorded. The tale 
is probably a later edition of an 
older English romance, itself trans- 
lated from the French, as many 
allusions are made throughout 
the poem to " the boke of Rome " 
(that is, " romance "). The tale 
recounts how Torrent, the son of 
a noble of Portugal, was, by the 
death of his father, left early 
the master of his own devices. 
Dwelling at the court of the 
King of Portugal, Torrent becomes 
enamoured of his daughter, and 
did many doughty feats of arms 
for her fair fame. The Mag, not 
relishing his suit, sends him on 
various dangerous quests, osten- 
sibly for the love of his daughter 
Desonelle, in which Torrent suc- 



TOR 

ceeds in slaying two dragons 
and several giants. On returning 
from one of these expeditions 
DesoneUe, fain to show her appre- 
ciation of the deeds he has done 
in her name, grants him her love. 
The king despatches him upon 
another adventure, and whilst he 
is gone, the Princess Desonelle 
bears him twin sons. Enraged 
at her loss of chastity, her father 
casts her into the sea along with 
her babes. But she succeeds in 
making the shore of a far country, 
where her children are reft from 
her. One is seized by a griffin, and 
is afterwards discovered by Saint 
Antony, a hermit, who carries it 
to his father, the King of Greece. 
The other child is found by the 
King of Jerusalem, playing with 
a leopard. DesoneUe is met by 
the King of Nazareth, who recog- 
nizes her, and carries her back 
to his wife with many marks of 
respect. Sir Torrent has mean- 
while proceeded to Norway to 
meet a giant who torments that 
country. He slays the monster 
and returns to Portugal, where he 
hears what has happened to Deso- 
neUe. CoUecting has friends and 
vassals, he falls upon the Mng, 
and commits him to the seas, 
where he is drowned. He then 
sets out for the East to war for 
the Cross. After successfuUy 
laying siege to several pagan 
cities he comes to one defended 
by Hobertious, his son, found by 
the King of Jersualem, who takes 
him prisoner. At his plaint, how- 
ever, Hobertious sets him free. 
The King of Greece hears of his 
warlike fame, and proclaims a 
tourney to which Torrent and 
Hobertious betake themselves. 
Here they do mighty deeds, and 
meet Torrent's other son, An- 
tony Fitz-Griffin, and DesoneUe. 
AU are reunited, and saU back to 



TOW 

Portugal, where Torrent and Deso- 
nelle are married, and he reigns 
over the country. His sons are 
proclaimed the heirs of the kings 
of Greece and Jerusalem, and 
after a well-spent reign Torrent 
dies and 

" Leyth in Rome in a feire abbey." 

TOWER OP MARVELS. A tower 
built over the remains of 150 
" Saracens " of Galafort by order 
of Ganort, Lord of Galafort and 
the GraU company. These un- 
beUevers were drowned because 
they would not be baptized along 
with others of Ganort's folk. It 
was prophesied that a king named 
Arthur should reign, that from 
one blow of a sword adventures 
should arise lasting twelve years, 
until the last descendant of Nas- 
ciens should end them, and that 
till that time no knight of Arthur's 
house should enter the tower 
without having to fight as good a 
man as himself. Thus should it 
be till he who was to end the 
adventures appeared. So they 
built the tower, and it remained 
until Lancelot destroyed it as 
(says the Grand Saint Graal) the 
Tale of Arthur's Death relates. 

TREBUCET or TRIBUET. The smith 
who mends Sir Perceval's broken 
sword. He adjures him to guard 
it carefully, as no prince or con- 
queror " had a better one." He 
appears to dwell near a lake into 
which he dips the sword, whence 
it emerges whole. 

TRENDORN. Li Irish romance, the 
servant of Conor {q.v.). He told 
his master of the beauty of Deirdre, 
but in spying upon her he was 
blinded in one eye by Naisi. 

TRI AMOUR, SIR. An English ro- 
mance, a copy of which is pre- 
served in the British Museum. 



359 TRI 

Two other copies exist in the 
Bodleian Library, Oxford, and an 
MS. in the pubhc hbrary of Cam- 
bridge. Arados, King of Arragon, 
who reigned over an obedient 
people, shared his reign with the 
affectionate and beautiful Mar- 
garet. But their perfect happi- 
ness was not complete. They 
longed for an heir to the throne. 
Arados suggests a visit to the 
Holy Land, but his wife refuses 
to join in such a perilous under- 
taking. The good king is deter- 
mined to go, and unconscious 
that his prayers for an heir have 
been heard, he sets out on the 
long journey. It unfortunately 
happens that Arados had left 
Marrock, his steward, to super- 
intend the destinies of his king- 
dom. This man, anxious to se- 
duce the unprotected queen, makes 
love to her. She soon realizes that 
her husband's regent, instead of 
cherishing the confidence of his 
sovereign, is possessed of a criminal 
passion towards her. The wicked 
Marrock is quickly made to reflect 
upon his honourable charge. Then 
seeing the queen will not stoop to 
his purpose, he decides to change 
his plan. Approaching her with 
an air of hunuhation, he appeals 
for her forgiveness in the hope 
that his treason will be concea,led 
from her husband. The queen 
readily forgives him, but he, de- 
parting from her presence, vows 
vengeance upon her. Meanwhile 
the king accompUshes his vow, 
by the slaughter of numberless 
Saracens, and returns to his 
people. He is overjoyed at again 
being with his wife, who is daily 
expecting the birth of a child. 
The sly Marrock boldly asserts 
that the child to whose birth he 
looks forward had been begotten 
in adultery. The king reproaches 
his steward with neghgence, but 



TRI 



360 



Marrock strengthens the untruth 
by rejoining that he slew the 
knight in whose arms he had found 
Margaret. The king, incensed at 
this story, does not beUeve the 
queen, who pleads for the sake of 
her child. Arados, in his mad 
haste, banishes his wife from the 
court. This hasty decision pleases 
the wicked Marrock, who prepares 
a plan for capturing the rejected 
queen. A certain Sir Roger is 
commanded to act as a body- 
guard to the unfortunate queen, 
taking with him a dog. Amidst 
great sorrow the doleful proces- 
sion leaves the palace of Arados. 
Marrock had previously set out, 
hoping to be rewarded for his 
successful villainy. The retinue 
slowly wends its way along a 
country road. The steward, post- 
ing himself in a forest, awaits its 
passage. The procession arriving 
at the spot is suddenly attacked. 
Sir Roger, altogether defenceless, 
makes a brave attempt to over- 
come the villainous steward, but 
is slain. Having completed his 
dastardly work, the steward goes 
in search of Margaret, who had 
meanwhile hid herself. Unable 
to locate her, the disappointed 
murderer retraces his steps to- 
wards Arragon. The queen then 
leaves her hiding-place to find 
that the faithful dog had scraped 
out a grave for his dead master. 
She reverently buries the noble 
Roger, while the dog refuses to 
quit the remains. Unable to en- 
tice the beast from the spot, the 
queen resumes her journey to 
Hungary. Approaching the en- 
trance to a wood, she alights from 
her horse, and gives birth to a 
son. This new joy erases from 
her memory the sense of her 
husband's injustice, and her pre- 
sent unprotected position. The 
mother washes the child, after 



TRI 

which she falls asleep. In this 
state she is discovered by a 
Hungarian knight. Sir Bernard de 
Mauservyne. Amazed at the 
sleeper's beauty, and presuming 
her to be of noble parentage, he 
wakens the queen, offering her 
his hospitality. To this generous 
knight she looks for help ; and 
gladly accompanies him to his 
castle. To the queen he appoints 
a retinue suitable to her rank, 
while her son is christened Tria- 
mour. Great attention is paid 
to the child, who receives an edu- 
cation befitting his rank. The 
dog, which Margaret had been 
forced to abandon at the grave 
of Sir Roger, guards with in- 
creasing devotion the remains of 
his master. Seeking his daily 
subsistence, as his chance of prey 
diminishes the length of his chase 
gradually increases, and at the 
close of the seventh year, at the 
festival of Christmas, he suddenly 
appears in the hall of the King of 
Arragon. Such an apparition ex- 
cites the curiosity of Arados, who 
faintly recollects having seen the 
dog. The animal becomes accus- 
tomed to return every day, and 
after receiving his pittance returns 
to his post. The king, now fully 
recollecting the dog, orders his 
steward to foUow after him, but 
no sooner does Marrock appear 
in answer to his master's summons 
than the dog springs upon him, 
the murderer of his master. Soon 
the unlucky steward is torn to 
pieces. This proves to the king 
that Marrock is the murderer. 
The dog after completing the 
revenge hastens off to his post, 
followed by the king's attendants. 
The remains of Sir Roger are 
removed to a more suitable resting- 
place, within the precincts of 
Arragon ; and the body of Marrock 
is paraded throughout the city and 



TRI 



361 



then hung upon a gibbet. The dog 
nieanwhile expires at the tomb of 
his master. King Arados is brought 
to regard these recent events as 
proof of his wife's innocence. 
Soon he despatches messengers 
throughout the land in search of 
her, but without avail. In the 
meantime the young Triamour 
completes his education ; and 
now accompHshed in the arts of 
chivalry, he expresses a wish to 
display his prowess. Nor has 
he long to wait ere his wishes are 
gratified. The King of Hungary 
dies at an advanced age, and is 
succeeded by his only daughter 
Helen, who has Just entered her 
fifteenth year. To one so young 
the responsibility of wielding the 
sceptre over vast dominions causes 
her advisers to suggest to their 
queen the advisabihty of marriage. 
But the young queen is beset by 
youthful nobles who are desirous 
of wedding her. So, wisely an- 
nouncing a tournament, she 
decides by this method to select 
the victor. To this tourney is 
attracted a brilliant array of 
knights, every country sending 
forth a detachment. Amongst 
them arrive the yoimg Triamour 
and King Arados. The day opens 
in brilhant array. The young 
queen, set high upon a tower, 
watches the progress of the con- 
flict with keen attention. Tria- 
mour soon attracts the gaze of 
the queen, who vainly tries to 
discover his hneage. The tourney 
proceeds for three days, at the end 
of which young Triamour is pro- 
claimed the victor. Sir James, 
son of the German Emperor, having 
been defeated by the young victor, 
determines to slay him. Ap- 
proaching Triamour as he leaves 
the field Sir James wounds him. 
But he is defended by Arados, 
who kills his despicable assailant. 



TRI 

Triamour returns thanks to Arados, 
and hastens off to the care of his 
mother. Helen, disappointed at 
the disappearance of the victor, 
endeavours to locate his residence, 
but without success. The com- 
petitors repair to the palace to 
hear the decision of the fair Helen, 
who declares herself bound by the 
conditions of the tournament, 
which she herself had fixed. And 
as the victor is not forthcoming 
she must be permitted to withhold 
her decision for one year and a 
day, after which, on the non- 
appearance of the victor, another 
tourney would be necessary to 
decide her choice. This mandate 
produces satisfaction. The beau- 
tiful Helen mourns the disappear- 
ance of her lover. But war clouds 
gather and Sir James's death 
must be avenged. The bereaved 
father decides to assail Arados, 
whom he knows to be an accessory 
to the deed, although not the 
actual slayer of his son. This 
action was sufficient to draw 
Triamour to the aid of Sir Arados, 
whose relationship to himself had 
not yet been divulged. Success 
attends the German forces until 
they arrive at the gates of Arragon, 
where a large force had mean- 
while congregated. Triamour sets 
forth to assist King Arados, who 
had saved his life. The king 
greets the yovmg adventurer, and 
invests him with the order of 
knighthood. Meanwhile the 
German army has reduced the 
defenders of the city to a state of 
despair. Sir Triamour soon alters 
the fortune of the war by defeating 
the Germans, and causing them to 
disperse in confusion. The land 
of King Arados is then freed of 
the enemy, and amid popular 
Jubilation, the victorious knight 
sets out for Hungary. Approach- 
ing the city he slays two giants who 



TRI 

had tried to impede his journey. 
He enters the city to learn that 
another tourney for the hand of 
the fair Helen is in progress. 
This spurs him to action. He 
enters the field, and rapidly assails 
another giant who proves to be 
the brother of those whom he had 
previously encountered. The 
queen witnesses his entry and 
soon learns that he is the original 
victor, and the knight whom she 
loves. Triamour again proves 
his claim to the honour of her hand, 
and after a long struggle he 
successfully overcomes the giant, 
winning the day. His victory is 
received by aU as a confirmation 
of his rightful claim to their queen. 
The wedding shortly afterwards 
takes place, to the satisfaction of 
his mother, Margaret, and the 
people of Hungary. Arados ap- 
pears at the coronation of the 
beloved pair, when he is rewarded 
for all his past sufferings by the 
recovery of his faithful Margaret, 
and the pleasure of embracing his 
son, to whom he owes the preser- 
vation of his life and kingdom. 

TRIGAMOUR. {Vide "Triamour.") 

TRISTREM. A romance attributed 
to Thomas Rymour (q.v.), and 
discovered in a vellum MS., by 
Ritson, in the Advocates' Library 
at Edinburgh. (See " Auchinleck 
MS.") After stating that he 
heard the tale from Thomas's 
own Ups, the author tells of a feud 
between two Cymric chieftains, 
Duke Morgan and Rouland Rise, 
Lord of Ermonie. A truce being 
agreed upon, they resolve to 
visit the court of King Mark of 
Cornwall, where Rouland gains 
the love of Blanche Flour, the 
king's sister. From this union 
springs Tristrem. Duke Morgan 
breaks the truce, and Rouland is 
slain. Blanche Flour, inconsolable 



362 TRI 

at his loss, expires, and leaves 
the infant Tristrem in the charge 
of Rohand, a faithful vassal, to 
whom she entrusts a ring well 
known to his Uncle Mark. Morgan 
seizes Ermonie, and Rohand pays 
him homage. To secure Tris- 
trem 's safety he brings him up as 
his own son. A Norwegian vessel 
puts in at the port near which 
they dwell, and Tristrem wins 
such treasure by beating its cap- 
tain at chess that to avoid pay- 
ment of the debt the Norsemen 
sail off with him. A dreadful 
tempest arises, and the captain 
attributing it to his shabby treat- 
ment of the young prisoner sets 
him ashore on the coast of Corn- 
wall, with all the treasure he has 
won, along with his tutor, who 
was also seized. His skill in 
venerie or hunting and his play- 
ing of' the harp endear him to 
King Mark, to whose court he 
comes. At length Rohand traces 
him to the court of Cornwall, and 
informs Mark of the youth's real 
history, which is confirmed by 
the production of the ring of 
Blanche Flour. Mark knights 
him, and provides him with men 
wherewith to regain his patri- 
monial estates. This he succeeds 
in doing, and returns to Cornwall. 
He finds Mark threatened by the 
King of Ireland for non-pajrment 
of tribute. Tristrem slays the 
Wsh ambassador, a giant named 
Moraunt, but is wounded in the 
thigh. He is declared his imcle's 
heir to the Cornish crown,, but 
his wound, which was inflicted 
by a poisoned weapon, becomes 
so offensive that no one may 
remain with him save his servant 
Gouvemayl, Tristrem leaves 
Cornwall and arrives at Dubhn, 
where he takes the name of 
Tremtris. His fame as a harper 
soon reaches the ears of the 



TRI 



363 



queen, who pays him a visit and 
cures his wound by means of a 
medicated bath. He undertakes 
to instruct her daughter Ysonde 
in poetry and music, and after a 
year spent thus he returns to 
Cornwall. His praises of Ysonde 
so stir Mark's heart that he de- 
sires to have her to wife, and he 
sends Tristram to Ireland to ask 
her hand. Arrived at DubUn 
they find the people in terror of 
a monstrous dragon which Tris- 
trem slays. He is, however, 
poisoned by the dragon's breath, 
and the king's steward pretends 
to have slain the monster, pro- 
ducing its head. But Tristrem 
recovers his senses, and is carried 
to the palace, where it is discovered 
that he is the veritable dragon- 
slayer. His sword is broken, and 
Ysonde sees that a piece of it 
corresponds to the piece found 
in the skull of her Uncle Moraunt, 
whom Tristrem slew. She and 
the queen not recognizing him, 
attempt his hfe, but are restrained 
by the king. Explanations follow, 
and Tristrem departs with Ysonde 
and her maiden Brengwain for 
Cornwall. On their departure the 
queen entrusts Brengwain with a 
love potion to be given to Ysonde 
and the King of Cornwall, but 
in error she gives it to Tristrem, 
Ysonde also partaking. They are 
seized by a violent mutual passion ; 
Mark and Ysonde are wedded 
on the arrival of the latter in 
Cornwall. An Irish lover of 
Ysonde's comes to Mark's court, 
and brings a harp of cunning upon 
which he refuses to play unless 
Mark grants him a boon. This 
the king rashly does. The harper 
demands Ysonde in fulfilment 
of his promise, and carries her off 
to his ship. But Tristrem takes 
up his ivory rote, and plays so 
skilfully that Ysonde begs to be 



TRI 

put ashore, feigning sickness. 
Tristrem places her upon his horse 
and disappears in the forest, 
where they sojourn seven nights. 
He then restores Ysonde to his 
uncle, whose suspicions are not 
excited until a revelation is made by 
a companion of Tristrem's, Meria- 
dock, who acts as the lago of the 
story. Ysonde, to prove her inno- 
cence, offers to undergo the ordeal 
by fire. The trial is appointed 
to take place at Westminster, 
and when about to cross the 
Thames, she spies her lover dis- 
guised as a peasant, and asks 
him to carry her from the shore 
to the vessel in which she must 
cross. When the oath prepara- 
tory to the ordeal is administered 
she swears that no man other 
than her husband had used greater 
famiharity with her than the 
peasant who had carried her from 
the shore to the vessel. Mark is 
satisfied, and foregoes the appli- 
cation of the ordeal. Tristrem 
retires into Wales, and enters the 
service of King Triamour, whose 
daughter Blanche Flour is sought 
in marriage by Urgan, the brother 
of Duke Morgan. Being rejected, 
Urgan seizes Triamour's posses- 
sions, but they are regained by 
Tristrem, who slays the usurper. 
His uncle recalls him to Cornwall 
and makes him High Steward; 
but the old fatal love-spell brings 
him once more into guilt with 
the queen, and both are banished 
by Mark. They dwell in a cave 
in the forest, and live on the spoils 
of Tristrem's spear. Once more 
they are pardoned by Mark, and 
Tristrem goes to Spain, Ermonie, 
and Brittany, where he makes a 
song upon Ysonde. The daughter 
of the king of that realm is also 
called Ysonde, and imagining that 
the song has been made/ about 
her, is offered to Tristremfby her 



TRI 



364 



TRI 



father. Tristrem accepts her, but 
the marriage remains unconsum- 
mated. After many adventures 
in Brittany he is accused of cruelty 
to his wife, by her brother, Gan- 
hardin, who desires to know why 
the union has not been consum- 
mated. Tristrem tells him that 
he loves a fairer lady, and Gan- 
hardin, desirous of seeing her, 
sets forth with him to accom- 
plish that object. They meet 
Ysonde and Brengwain, with the 
latter of whom Ganhardin falls 
in love. They are watched by 
spies, and the queen and her 
maiden return to court and Gan- 
hardin to Brittany. But Tristrem 
remains in Cornwall. A tourna- 
ment is proclaimed, and Tristrem 
with Ganhardin, who returns, van- 
quishes all comers. The cham- 
pions return to Brittany, where 
Tristrem receives an arrow in his 
old wound. (Here the matter 
of the Auchinleck MS. ends, but 
the conclusion is supphed by Sir 
Walter Scott, who collated it with 
a similar French MS. as follows) : 
The wound can only be cured by 
Ysonde of Cornwall, and Tristrem 
requests Ganhardin to take his 
ring to her, and to hoist a black 
sail on his ship on his return 
should he not succeed in bringing 
her back with him. Ysonde re- 
turns with Ganhardin, and a 
white sail is displayed. But 
Ysonde of Brittany tells Tristrem 
that a black sail has been hoisted, 
whereupon, concluding that Ysonde 
of Cornwall has forsaken him, he 
sinks back in despair and dies. 
The queen on landing is informed 
of his death, and rushing to where 
his body lies, casts herself down 
beside it and expires. Upon the 
marvellously human and epic na- 
ture of this stirring and pathetic 
tale of hopeless passion there is 
no necessity to enlarge. It has 



been selected for condensation as 
being the most complete, even 
in its truncated condition, of all 
the Tristrem romances, and es- 
pecially as it is of British origin, 
and easily accessible to British 
readers. But some other con- 
siderations are perhaps worthy of 
attention. In all probabihty the 
tale was modelled upon that of 
Lancelot and Guinevere. It is 
clear that the lovers in both tales 
are merely counterparts. Tris- 
trem is one of the " fatal children " 
who, bom in sorrow, hke MacduS 
and Sigurd, is scarcely seen by his 
mother, who names him " the 
Unhappy." But the darkness of 
his infancy is dispelled by the 
glorious nature of his manhood. 
Tristrem is the mighty hunter 
and harper, a parallel with Or- 
pheus, Amphion, Hermes, and 
Sigurd. He is wounded with the 
poisoned weapon of Moraunt (for 
the violet-tinted rays of the morn- 
ing sun are called los, or Ion, 
from the word oe, homonym for 
a spear and for poison), and we 
see in his relations with King 
Mark and Ysonde a repro- 
duction of those witnessed in the 
Volsunga Saga, where Sigurd, 
Brynhild, and Gunnar stand in like 
relation to one another. But, 
hke Sigurd, he must woo his bride 
for another, yet is he, Uke him, 
doomed to wed another woman 
whom he does not love, who in 
the event becomes his deadly foe. 
Like Herakles, he is able to slay 
single-handed scores of assailants, 
it skills not how many. His is 
the irresistible power of the sun, 
for he is unquestionably one of 
the many " Sons of the Sim," 
"Men of the Sun," or "Sun- 
heroes," with whom the student 
is constantly brought into contact 
in the study of myth, folklore and 
romance. 



TOA 365 

TUAN MAC CARELL. An Irish le- 
gendary personage, the story of 
whose metamorphoses is to be 
found in the "Book of the Dun 
Cow," a manuscript written about 
the year 1100 a.d. Tuan mac 
CareU, an Irish chief of the sixth 
century, having returned St. 
Finnen's visit, invited him and 
his disciples to his fortress. Here 
he related to them the history 
of Ireland ; of the Partholanians 
{q-v.), he alone remained aHve 
after the great pestilence, wan- 
dering in lonely Ireland. Now 
disgusting in appearance and 
miserable, he awoke one morning 
to find himself changed into a 
young stag. He was king of the 
stags during the Nemedian occu- 
pation of Ireland. Again, weary 
with extreme old age, he was 
given the form of a wild boar, and 
became king of his kind. Then 
Semion (q.v.), son of Stariat, 
settled in L-eland. From him 
descended the Firbolgs (q.v.), and 
two other tribes. As an eagle 
he beheld the incoming of the 
divine Danaans (q.v.), and their 
conquerors, the sons of Miled {q.v.). 
Then in the form of a salmon he 
was caught and carried to the 
wife of Carell (q.v.). Bom of 
her he became man, son of 
Carell. 

TUDVWICH HIR. (Ftde"Gododin.") 
Son of Kilydd (elsewhere called 
son of Prince Kelyddon, and 
therefore a Strathclyde Briton 
from Caledon). He had lost 
his land, and with a strong re- 
tinue boasted he would disperse 
the invaders. He made havoc 
with the Saxons for seven days, 
and then was taken prisoner. 
" His valour should have kept 
him a free man ; his memory 
is cherished by his fair com- 
panions." 



TWO 



TURENN, QUEST OF THE SONS OF. 

A tale of Lugh (q.v.), the Irish sun- 
god. (FWealso "Kian.") 

TUROLD or THEROULDE. (Vide 
" Song of Roland.") 

TURPIN or TILPIN. The warrior 
Archbishop of Rhiems, and one of 
Charlemagne's peers. A stout 
fighter, he died at Roncesvaux 
with Roland and Oliver. (Vide 
"Song of Roland.") There is 
attributed to him a fabulous 
Chronicle, which he certainly never 
compiled. He baptized Ferum- 
bras. He was one of those who 
unsuccessfully remonstrated with 
Charlemagne at his decision about 
the Uberation of his nephews. 
Charlemagne sent for him to 
baptize Laban the Soudan, but 
Laban assaulted the archbishop 
and was so violent that he was 
executed instead. He died of 
his wounds at Roncesvaux. He 
also baptized Sir Otuel when he 
turned proselyte, and Garsie when 
he embraced Christianity. He 
was saying mass for the souls of 
the dead when he declared he 
heard the songs of the angels who 
carried Roland's soul up to 
heaven. He heard of Roland's 
death from some black fiends, 
who were carrying King Marsire's 
soul to the lower regions. 

TURQUINE, SIR. In Arthurian ro- 
mance, a powerful warrior, and 
an oppressor of good knights. He 
eventually met his death at the 
hands of Sir Lancelot (q.v.). ( Vide 
" Morte d'Arthur.") 

TWO LOVERS, THE LAY OF. A 

Breton romance written by Marie 
de France (q.v.). The King of 
Normandy, who built the town of 
Pistres, had only one daughter, 
whom, his wife being dead, he 
cherished dearly. Many a suitor 



TYR 



366 



URB 



sought the maiden's hand. The 
king, therefore, fearing lest his 
child might be carried off, had it 
proclaimed that only he who 
without rest or stay could carry 
the princess to the pinnacle of 
the mountain that reared itself 
near the city should wed his 
daughter. Many essayed the 
task, but unsuccessfully. There 
was a certain squire, however, 
who, having set his heart upon 
the maiden, had his love returned. 
Now she desiring to have him for 
her husband, though she refused to 
flee with him, sent him with letters 
to her aunt in Saleone, who was 
very cunning in the knowledge of 
medicine. Armed with a strength- 
giving potion, the young lover 
returned to Pistres to ask for the 
hand of the princess. Amused 
at the stripling's self-confidence, 
the king summoned a large com- 
pany to behold the ascent of the 
youth with his beloved. Nor did 
she forget aught that might help 
him, dressing but thinly and 
fasting. With joy in his breast 
and courage in his heart, he 



climbed swiftly till near the sum- 
mit he flagged. Fearing to take 
the potion in the pubUc eye, he 
had given the philtre to the 
maiden. But though she urged 
him to drink it, he would not. 
At last, almost upon the pinnacle 
his heart burst, and he lay dead. 
The unhappy maiden loudly be- 
wailed her lover. Upon the barren 
mount she flung away the philtre, 
and there grew up many a saving 
herb. As the lovers did not 
return, the king went to seek them, 
and coming upon them dead in 
each other's arms, swooned away. 
When he recovered after three 
days he buried them upon the 
mountain, and gave it the name 
of the " Mountain of the Two 
Lovers." 

TYREN. In Irish romance, sister to 
Muma, mother of Finn. She was 
changed into a hound by the 
witchcraft of a fairy woman who 
loved her husband tJllan. The 
two hounds of Finn were her 
children, who were bom as dogs 
after her metamorphosis. 



u 



UGAINY THE GREAT. Ruler of 
Ireland in romance, father of 
Laery and Conal (q.v.). 

ULFIUS. A knight of King Arthur, 
one of the earhest mentioned as 
having any connection with him. 
He accompanied Arthur's father, 
Uther Pendragon, when he entered 
the castle of Tintagil in the shape 
of the Duke of Tintagil in order 
to have access to the duke's 
wife, Igraine, mother of Arthur. 
He afterwards assisted Arthur 
mightily in the famous battle of 
the eleven kings alluded to in the 
first book of Malory's Morte 



d' Arthur. He is usually accom- 
panied by his companion Sir 
Brastias, and what is said of the 
one is usually said also of the 
other. 

URBAN OF THE BLACK THORN. 

Alluded to in the Didot-Perceval 
as the guardian of a certain ford 
which his lady had set him to 
watch. He challenges the pas- 
sage of Perceval, who overthrew 
him. His lady comes to his aid 
with her maidens in the shape of 
birds. Perceval slays one which 
becomes a woman, and is carried 
off by the others to Avallon. 



URI 



367 



VAL 



URIEN, KING. Husband of Morgan 
le Fay and father of Sir Gawain. 
(F«d:e"Morted' Arthur.") 

URIENS or URIENCE. King of the 
Land of Gore in Arthurian ro- 
mance, and husband of Arthur's 
sister, Morgan le Pay. He leagued 
himself with the eleven Mngs 
{q.v.), against Arthur. Morgan 
attempted to slay him, but was 
prevented by her son Uwaine. 

URRE, SIR. Knight of Hungary. 
He was severely wounded in a 
fray with a noble knight whom he 
slew, causing the fallen champion's 
mother to take vengeance by 
exercising her powers of sorcery 
over him, which prevented his 
wounds from healing. According 
to Arthurian romance, he goes to 
England, where.after vain attempts 
by Arthur and his knights, it is 
discovered that no one can heal 
him excepting Lancelot {q.v.), who 
later entrusted him with the 
Earldom of Estratse in the land 
of Benwick, over which Lancelot 
ruled for a while. {Vide " Morte 
d'Arthur.") 

URRY, SIR. {Vide "Guy of War- 
wick.") Sent by Roland to travel 
with Sir Guy. He was killed in 
the affray with the Italians. 



USNA. In Irish romance, father of 
Naisi {q.v.). 

UTA. {Vide " Gudrun Lay.") Wife 
of King Sigebant of Ireland {q.v.), 
and mother of Hagen {q.v.). 

UTE (1). (Uote.) Wifeofffildebrand 
{q.v.). { Vide " Dietrich of Bern.") 

UTE (2). {Vide " Nibelungenhed.") 
Mother of Kriemhild. She inter- 
prets Kriemhild's dream of a 
falcon (which she nurtures for a 
time till two eagles swoop upon 
it and destroy it), as representing 
a noble husband " whom may God 
preserve lest thou lose him too 
early." 

UTHER PENDRAGON. King of 
Britain, and father of Arthur by 
Igraine, wife of the Duke of 
Tintagil, afterwards his own wife. 
He procured access to her in the 
shape of her husband by means 
of Merlin's magic arts. Within 
two years he fell sick of a great 
malady, and wUled that their 
child, then unknown, should be 
King of Britain. 

UWAINE, SIR, Son of King Uriens, 
and Knight of the " Round Table." 
He met his death in combat with 
his brother Gawaine {q.v.). {Vide 
" Morte d'Arthur.") 



VALENTINE AND ORSON. Sons of 
Bellisant, sister of King Pepin 
and wife of Alexander, Emperor 
of Constantinople. The twin 
brothers were bom in a wood, 
near Orleans, and while their 
mother went in search of Orson, 
who had been carried off by a 
bear, Pepin happened to find 
Valentine and took him under 
his charge. Valentine married 
Clerimond, niece of the Green 



Knight. Orson was suckled by 
the bear, and when he grew to 
manhood he became the terror of 
France, and was called the Wild 
Man of the Forest. He was re- 
claimed by Valentine, overthrew 
the Green Knight, and married 
Fizon, the daughter of Duke 
Savary of Aquitaine. The ro- 
mance, which is of very consider- 
able antiquity, will be found in 
the Bibliotheque de Romans. 



VIA 



368 



VIV 



VIATDUR. Daughter of Constan- 
tine (q.v.). Emperor of Rome. 
She is mentioned in the romance 
of Eglamour of Artoys (q.v.), as 
having healed Eglamour of his 
poisoned wounds caused through 
his encounter with a dragon {q.v.). 

VIRGILIUS. In the Gesta Roman- 
orum. Virgil is represented as 
a mighty but benevolent enchanter. 
This is the character which tradi- 
tion always gives him, and it is 
this traditional character that 
furnishes Dante with his con- 
ception of making Virgil his guide 
through the infernal regions. The 
Virgil of romance was wise, and 
as craft was considered a part 
of wisdom, especially where the 
overreaching of the spirits of evil 
was concerned, so he is repre- 
sented by mediaeval writers as 
outwitting the Demon. On one 
occasion, it is said, he saw an imp 
in a hole close by a mountain, and 
the imp promised to teach the 
poet the black art if he released 
him. Virgil did so, and after 
learmng all the imp could teach 
him, expressed amazement that 
one of such imposing stature could 
be squeezed into so smaU a rift. 
The evil spirit said, " Oh, that is 
not wonderful," and crept into 
the hole to show Virgil how it was 
done — ^whereupon Virgil closed up 
the hole and kept him imprisoned 
there. 

VIRGINAL, DIETRICH'S ERSTE AUS- 
FAHRT, and DIETRICH UND 
SEINE GESELLEN. Similar ver- 
sions of a Tyrolese tale, dating 
about the end of the thirteenth 
century and connected with the 
saga-cycle of Dietrich of Bern {q.v.). 
The poem, a prolonged and dreary 
account of feast and foUy, tells 
of Dietrich's captivity among the 
giants, and the rescue of a maiden 
from their fortresses, the whole 



obviously compiled for the pur- 
pose of recital at court. It con- 
sists of no less than 14,000 hnes, 
and is rambUng and contradictory 
in character. Dietrich is informed 
in his court at Berne that Virginal, 
Queen of Jeraspunt, is oppressed 
by the Saracen Orkise, and sets 
forth to free her with Hildebrand, 
his companion. They lose each 
other, and Hildebrand comes 
upon a maiden of Virginal's, who 
has been left in the forest as 
tribute to the Saracens. The in- 
fidel appears, but is slain by 
Hildebrand. Meanwhile Dietrich 
has met and fought with Orkise's 
followers, from whom he is rescued 
by Hildebrand. Virginal invites 
the heroes to her court, but en 
route they encounter a fierce 
dragon which they slay, freeing 
a warrior named Rentnim from 
its clutches. They halt at 
Rentnim's father's castle, where 
they make merry for a space. 
Setting out once more for Jera- 
spunt, Dietrich, riding on ahead, 
is feUed and imprisoned by a 
giant in the service of Duke 
Nitger, whose sister saves him 
from the other giants in the 
Duke's pay. Hildebrand arrives 
before Nitger's castle with a large 
army, the giants are slain and 
Dietrich is delivered. Nitger is 
pardoned for his sister's sake, 
and all proceed to Virginal's 
palace, where they engage ia a 
lengthy round of festivities, Die- 
trich finally taking Virginal back 
to Bern as his wife. 

VIVIANE or VIVIANA. Merhn, hav- 
ing become enamoured of Viviane, 
daughter of Dyonas (probably 
Dylan, the Brythonic sea-god), 
was so incautious as to impart 
to her the secrets of his magical 

■ arts, being driven to do so by 
fate, although fully aware of his 



VOL 



folly. Weary of his importunity, 
she resolved to rid herself of him 
for ever, and obtained from him 
the secret whereby she might 
imprison him " without chains 
and without a tower," and by 
means of enchantment alone. One 
day whilst in the Forest of Broce- 
liande she imprisoned Merhn with 
his own spell, and he was never 
afterwards beheld by mortal man. 
(Ficie "Merhn.") Viviane is famous 
under the name of the Lady of 
the Lake as the guardian of the 
young Lancelot {q.v.). (Vide also 
" Brocehande " and " Morte 
d'Arthur.") She is in some 
romances alluded to as Nimue. 

VOLSUNG. Son of Rerir (q.v.), hus- 
band of Lijod (q.v.), who bore 
him twins, a son and a daughter : 
Sigmund (q.v.), and Signy (q.v.). 
He met his death at the hands 
ofKingSiggeir(g.t).). (Vide" The 
Lay of the Volsungs.") 

VOLSUNGS , LAY OF THK. So-called, 
or Volsunga Saga, an early Teu- 
tonic epic, probably a develop- 
ment of certain Edda tales as 
the Nibelungenlied is a develop- 
ment of it. It is likely that the 
epic arose from elements current 
as story about the eighth century. 
These elements are to be found 
in the Elder Edda, compiled by 
Seemund between 1056 and 1121. 
The personages of the Volsunga 
Saga are alluded to in the Song of 
Hundla in the first volume of the 
Edda, where Sigurd is mentioned 
as the slayer of Fafnir, and in a 
later stanza we find the names 
of Gunnar and Haugn. The group 
of poems referring especially to 
th&legend occurs, however, among 
the heroic pieces of the second 
volume. Thus the Sigurd cycle 
proper opens with the tales called 
" Sigurd, Fafnir's bane." This 
is probably of late date, perhaps 



369 VOL 

the tenth century. The tale of 
Fafnir proper (Fafnisbana II.) 
partly in prose, precedes the 
Tale of Brynhild, JBvdli's Daughter. 
Then follows the Third Tale of 
Sigurd, the First Tale of Ghidrun, 
Second Tale of Oudrun, Third Tale 
of Gudrun, The Tale of Atla, and 
other minor lays from which the 
Volsung story group was subse- 
quently formed. 

Sigi was the son of Odin. 
Having slain a thrall he was 
forced to flee his father's domain, 
but carved out one for himself 
in Hunland. Li old age he was 
slain by those of his household, 
and was succeeded by his son 
Rerir, who overcame the rebels. 
In later life Rerir was troubled 
because he had no son. But 
Freyja gave an apple to Rerir's 
wife, so that she conceived, and 
after six years' labour, bore Vol- 
sung. He wedded Lijod, the hand- 
maiden of Freyja, and she bore 
him twins — a son and daughter, 
Sigmund and Signy. Siggeir, 
King of Gothland, came oversea 
to request Signy for his wife when 
she had arrived at a marriageable 
age. In the great hall of the 
Volsungs stood the oak Branstock, 
which overshadowed the entire 
apartment, and in this place 
Volsung held a mighty feast for 
Siggeir, to whom he gave Signy. 
But she held him in loathing. 
On the day of the wedding-feast 
there entered a stranger (Odin) 
who thrust a great sword into the 
trunk of the oak Branstock, saying, 
" Whoso plucketh out this sword 
shall have the same in gift from 
me, and will find that better 
brand he never bare . ' ' All essayed 
to pull out the brand, but only 
Sigmund succeeded. King Sig- 
geir desired to buy the sword, 
but Sigmund refused to sell it. 
He then departed with Signy, 
2 B 



VOL 

after extracting a promise from 
Volsung that he and his sons 
shoxild pay a visit to Gothland 
in three months' time. On their 
arrival there, they were warned 
by Signy that Siggeir meant them 
harm. The men of Gothland at- 
tacked them, slaying aU save the 
ten sons of Volsung, whom they 
took captive. He placed them 
in a wood, and caused a great 
beam to be laid over them so 
that they could not stir. Every 
night a she-wolf came to the 
wood and killed one of the 
brothers. Sigmund was the last, 
and he succeeded in beating her 
off and freeing himself. He dwelt 
in the woods, and received food 
from Signy, who sent both her 
sons to him. He kiUed them 
because of their cowardice. Chang- 
ing shapes with a wise woman, she 
dwelt for three days with Sigmund, 
and afterwards bore to him Sinf- 
jotli. Him also she sent to her 
brother, who trained him to a 
fierce and hardy life. They 
dressed themselves in wolf -skins, 
and attacked men in the forest 
for their wealth. Agreeing to slay 
Eang Siggeir, they secreted them- 
selves between the casks of ale 
in his hall. Discovered by the 
king's children they slew them, 
and cast their bodies into the hall 
at Siggeir's feet. They were cap- 
tured after a stem resistance and 
buried in a large mound, with a 
great stone between them. But 
as the earth was cast upon them, 
Signy threw an armful of straw 
into it, in which a sword was con- 
cealed. They sawed through the 
stone with the blade, and cut 
through the earth, thus escaping. 
Then they heaped wood around 
Siggeir's palace and set it afire. 
Signy came to the window, and 
told Sigmund that he was the 
father of Sinfjotli. They rush 



370 VOL 

back among the fia.mes for the joy 
of seeing King Siggeir bum. 
Sigmund and Sinfjotli, then jour- 
neyed to Hunland, and put down 
b. man there who reigned in Vol- 
sung's room. And Sigmimd 
reigned over Hunland, and took 
to wife Borghild, who bore him 
two sons, Helgi and Hamund. 
Sinfjotli strove with Borghild's 
brother for the sake of a woman, 
and slew him. Wherefore Borg- 
hild poisoned him, and was put 
away by Sigmund, who married 
Hjordis, daughter of King EyUmi. 
Kong Ijyngi, a rival for her hand, 
warred upon him, and both were 
slain. Ere he died he conjured 
Hjordis to save the shards of his 
good sword Gram for the son she 
was yet to bear. Alf the Viking 
landing at that juncture, Hjordis 
requested him to ship her with her 
treasure to King Hjalprek's palace 
in Denmark, and this he did. The 
lay then tells how Helgi, the son 
of Sigmund by Borghild, when he 
came to manhood went against 
King Hunding and slew him and 
took his lands. He fell in love with 
Sigrun, King Hogni's daughter, 
but she was betrothed to Hod- 
brod, son of King Granmar, 
whom she despised. Helgi made 
an expedition against Granmar, 
slew Hodbrod, and wedded Sigrun. 
But Hogni, Sigrun's father, came 
against him because he had taken 
his daughter, and was slain. Helgi, 
however, spared Dag, his son ; 
but Dag borrowed Odin's spear, 
and slew Helgi. Sigrun buried 
Helgi, but lay with him in his 
burial mound, so that she sickened 
and died. We now return to 
Hjordis, who dwelt in Hjalprek's 
palace in Denmark. There she 
bore dead Sigmund's son, and 
called him Sigurd. Regin was 
his tutor, and from him he learned 
magic. His mother married with 



VOL 



371 



Alf, King Hjalprek's son. He 
received the foal Grani from Odin. 
Regin told him of the dragon 
Fafnir which dwelt on Glistening 
Heath, and guarded a great trea- 
sure. Fafnir and Otter were 
brothers of Regin. Loki, the god 
of evil, slew Otter and was forced 
to fill his sMn with gold rings 
by Hreidmar, his father. EoM 
caused the dwarf Andvari to pay 
this fine with his treasure, but 
Andvari retained one ring. But 
that also he was forced to give 
up, and this ring proved baneful, 
for Fafnir murdered his father 
for the treasure, and grovelled 
until he became a dragon. Regin 
forged a great sword to arm 
Sigurd against Fafnir, but it broke. 
Then went Sigurd to his mother, 
Hjordis, and asked for the shards 
of his father's sword Gram, which 
Regin welded again. To avenge 
his father, Sigurd set sail for 
Hunland, and slew Lyngi and the 
sons of Hunding, winning back 
his father's reahn. Returning to 
Denmark, he set out with Regin 
in quest of Fafnir. He dug pits, 
and hid himself in one of them. 
Smiting upwards, he slew the 
dragon. Regin requested him to 
cut out Fafnir's heart and roast 
it. But as it spluttered in the 
fire it burnt Sigurd's finger, then 
he placed it to his mouth. Imme- 
diately he was able to comprehend 
the speech of birds, which warned 
him to slay Regin who meditated 
his death. So he smote off his 
head. Sigurd then ate of Fafnir's 
heart and put by the rest. He 
then secured the treasure, which 
he placed on his horse's back. 
Passing the mountain HindfeU, 
he saw a great hght go 
up from it. Chmbing the height 
he beheld a great castle, about 
which all was desolation. Within 
he came upon a fair maiden clad 



VOL 

in armour, lying fast asleep. She 
was called BrynhUd. He awaken- 
ed her, and told her his name. 
She told him that when Helm 
Gunnar strove with Agnar that 
she desired to assist the latter 
against the will of Odin. So 
Odin had pierced her with the 
sleepthom, and doomed her when 
she woke to love but to possess 
not, to wed, but not to have her 
will. Yet she had vowed to wed 
only a man who knew not fear. 
They pUghted their troth, and 
Sigurd rode away, journeying until 
he came to the dwelling of a chief 
named Heimar who had wedded 
Bekkhild, a sister of BrynhUd. 
BrynhUd came to Heimar's castle 
to see her sister, and during her 
stay embroidered upon a cloth 
the deeds of Sigurd. At this task 
he espied her, but was advised by 
Alswid, Heimar's son, to cease to 
think of her, as she was a " war- 
maid." But he went to BrynhUd 
and sat beside her. She told him 
that they might never abide to- 
gether. Sigurd was sorrowfxU, but 
gave her Andvari's ring in pledge, 
the luckless ring of Fafnir's hoard. 
South of the Rhine dwelt King 
Giuki and his queen GrimhUd. 
They had three sons, Gunnar, 
Hogni, and Guttorm, and a daugh- 
ter Gudrun. Gudnm dreamed 
an evU dream, concerning which 
she consulted BrynhUd. She told 
her that she dreamed that she 
had captured a hart with golden 
hair, and that a fierce woman 
took him from her, and that in 
this woman she recognized Bryn- 
hUd herself, who shot the deer, 
and placed a wolf-cub on her lap 
instead. BrynhUd read her dream 
as foUows : that she would take 
Sigurd to wife, but should not have 
him long, and that a great strife 
should come between Gudrun and 
herself. Sigurd left King Heimar's 



VOL 

hall, and travelled to that of King 
Giuki. Grimhild, his queen, de- 
sired Sigurd for her daughter 
Gudrun, and gave him a potion 
which caused him to forget Bryn- 
hUd. Sigurd was wed to Gudrun. 
Grimhild then put it into Gunnar's 
heart to win Brynluld. But Gun- 
nar might not win through the 
flames that surrounded her castle. 
Sigurd then took upon himself the 
Hkeness of Gunnar, and rode 
through the flames. Brynhild, 
because of her oath, was forced to 
wed Sigurd in the shape of Guimar. 
They exchanged rings, and Sigurd 
departed. Then King Giuki made 
a feast for Gunnar to which came 
Brynhild, who was married to 
Gunnar. Then Sigurd's memory 
returned when all too late, and a 
great gloom fell upon him. Bryn- 
hild and Gudrun quarrelled some 
time afterwards, and Gudrun told 
her that Sigurd had rode through 
the fire for her in Gunnar's shape. 
Brynhild fell sick on hearing this, 
and attempted Gunnar's hfe. She 
fell into a heavy sleep, and, 
Gudrun pitying her, sent Sigurd 
to waken her. He confessed to 
her that Gudrun had grown dear 
to him, but that rather than 
Brynhild should die, he would 
put Gudrun away and wed with 
her. Brynhild requested Gunnar 
to slay Sigurd in Gudrun's arms. 
Gunnar fed his younger brother, 
Guttorm, on woli's meat and set 
him to slay Sigurd in bed. In this 
he succeeded, but was also slain 
himself. So sharp was Gudrun's 
sorrow that she might not weep 
until she saw Sigurd's corpse. 
BrjTihild in her dreadful grief 
thrust herself through with her 
sword and died. And Gunnar 
built a mighty pile of wood.and laid 
thereon the bodies of Sigurd and 
Brynhild which were consumed 
by the bale-fire. Gudrun, with 



372 VOL 

bitterness in her heart against 
her brethren, went into the moors 
to mourn alone. Later she betook 
herself to the palace of King Alf 
of Denmark, where she remained 
for seven years. Grimhild, her 
mother, journeying hither with 
her sons, gave her a magic draught 
which caused her to forget her 
woes. Shortly afterwards she was 
wed to King Atli, Brynhfld's 
brother. Atli, desiring the treasure 
of Faf nir as a dowry with Gudnm, 
sent messengers to the Giukings to 
come to his realm, in order that 
he might slay them. But Gudrun 
sent a runic message to Gunnar 
warning him of her husband's 
purpose. A messenger altered this 
in such a manner that it appeared 
as a request that Gudrun's brothers 
should come. On their arrival at 
the court of Ath they foimd the 
town full of armed men, and 
received curt greeting from the 
king, who called upon them to 
give up Sigurd's gold. A terrific 
combat arose. The Giukings did 
tremendous execution, until only 
Gunnar and Hogni were left aUve. 
In the end they were borne down 
by force of numbers and bound. 
Atli proposed to slay HjaUi, a 
thrall of Gunnar's, but he begged 
so piteously for his hfe that Hogni 
asked to be slain in his stead. 
Gunnar and Hogni were led away 
to prison, and placed in dungeons 
apart. Ath offered to spare Gun- 
nar if he would tell him where 
Sigurd's gold might be found. 
This Gunnar promised to do if 
Ath brought him the heart of his 
brother Hogni. AtH did so, and 
Gunnar said, " Now I alone know 
where the treasure is ; and the 
secret is safe." Gunnar was cast 
into a pit of vipers. But Gudrun 
lowered a harp down to him, and 
upon this he played so skilfully 
with his feet that he charmed aU 



VOL 

the snakes asleep, save one, which 
stung him to death. At Gudrun's 
request Atli made a great funeral 
feast for her brethren. Whilst 
at the feast Atli requested Gudrun 
to bring their children to him. 
She retorted that he had just eaten 
of their flesh and drunk of their 
blood, for she had slain them in 
revenge for the death of her 
brethren, and given him them to 
eat. Sick at heart, Atli took him- 
self to bed. But Niblung, the 
sun of Hogni, and Gudrun took 
council, and stabbed him in his 
sleep, then set the palace afire. 
So perished Atli and all his folk 
with him. Gudrun, weary of life, 
attempted to drown herself in the 
sea, which carried her to the burg 
of King Jonakr, who took her to 
wife. She sent for Swanhild, her 
daughter by Sigurd, who was 
asked by King Jormunrek in 
marriage. Jonakr consented, but 
in the voyage to Jormunrek's 
court she fell in love with Randver 
his son, and on their arrival at 
Jormunrek's dominions both were 
slain by the king's order. But 
Gudrun's sons by Jonakr, Saurli 
and Hamdir, avenged her death by 
the slaughter of Jormunrek and 
his folk, in which combat, howeVer, 
they were themselves slain. Gud- 
run, hearing of this, fell into de- 
spair, musing how all her kindred 
had been cut off root and branch, 
and with a caU to Sigurd upon her 
hps she died. Her sorrow-bound 
heart thawed at last in the funeral 
pyre. 

The Volsunga Saga recounts in 
a complicated form the world-tale 
of the battle between hght and 
darkness. Like Arthur and The- 
seus, Sigmund alone can draw 
the sword Gram from the oak 
Branstock, a weapon from the 
same armoury as the sun-swords 
and arrows of Phoebus, Achilles, 



373 VOL 

Arthur and Eoland. The death 
of the deadly viper which lurks 
in the meal-bag Imeaded by Sinf- 
jotli is the slaying of the darkness 
of night or winter. The capture 
of the heaven-gods Eoki (flame), 
Odin and Hahnir by the father 
of the otter and their golden 
ransom which fills the otterskin 
until not a white hair is visible, 
typifies the freeing of the earth 
from the fetters of ice, and the 
spreading of the golden sunshine 
of summer over it. Andvari's 
ring, which multipHes itself, sym- 
boUzes the reproductive faculty 
of nature. Brynhild, the Val- 
kyrie, is the peerless maiden who 
has slept in a charmed slumber 
caused by the thorn of winter 
thrust into her hand by Odin hke 
the Rakshas' claw which leaves 
Surya Bai, the sun-maiden, sense- 
less in Hindu myth. Helgi (who 
according to the Sagaman was 
to be bom again), Sigmund and 
Sigurd are all men of the sun, who, 
although in the story they do not 
return as some sun-heroes do, prove 
by their statements that in some 
earlier version they were alluded 
to as arising again. Gudrun, the 
sun-bride, becomes the wife of 
two other kings, the gloaming and 
the darkness. As Medea slew 
the children of lason after she had 
sent the death-robe to Glauke, she 
gives AtU his children's flesh to 
eat. She then marries Jonakr, 
lord of the winter-land, and she 
passes away in an autumn twiUght. 
The entire series of incidents 
belongs to the great tragedy of the 
year, and the drama of the four 
seasons — the eternal tale-basis of 
primitive man. 

Literature : Cox, Mythology of 
the Aryan Nations, Bk. 1, Ch. xii. ; 
Dasent, Popular Tales from the 
Norse (introduction) ; Miiller, 
Chips from a German Workshop ; 



VOY 



374 



Vigfussen and Powell, Corpus 
Poeticum Boreah ; W. Morris and 
E. Magnusson, The Volsunga 
Saga (Camelot Library) ; W. 
Morris, Sigurd the Volsung ; Cox 
and Jones, Tales from Teutonic 
Lands; Ludlow, Popular Epics 
of the Middle Ages. 

VOYAGE A JERUSALEM (Charle- 
magne's voyage). A poem of 
the Charlemagne cycle (c. 1115), 
" which serves well to illustrate 
the fading away into a mere 
fable of the personality of the 
great emperor." It is probably 
one of the best known among 
British Hterati, as a MS. of it 
exists in the British Museum 
(King's Library, 16, E. VIII.). 
The subject of the poem is the 
imaginary voyage of Charles to 
Jerusalem and Constantinople. 
Charles, told by his wife that 
there is one monarch more kingly 
[than he, Hugo the Strong, Em- 
peror of Greece, is deeply wounded. 
The Prankish king resolves to see 
his rival. He, therefore, proclaims 
as an excuse, a pUgiimage to 
Jerusalem. Eighty thousand men 
accompany him, and reach the 
Holy City safely. They after- 
wards proceed to Constantinople, 
where they are greeted by Hugo, 
the magnificence of whose sur- 
roundings strikes the Franks with 
awe. After a sumptuous feast 
Hugo takes Charles and his peers 
into his sleeping apartment. The 
French begin to brag, a common 
custom with the Teutonic war- 
riors of the early Middle Ages, 
and each of them vaunts that he 
can accompHsh some feat more or 
less possible. A spy of Hugo's 
overhears them, and acquaints 
his master with what they have 
said. As all the vaunts emitted 
by the Franks have been more 
or less offensive to Hugo, he 



VOY 

swears that unless they make 
them true he will have them aU 
executed. He reproaches them 
with their abuse of his hospitahty, 
and intimates his decision to 
them. Charles, in his despair, 
has his relics brought. An angel 
appears to him, commands him 
never more to brag, but tells him 
to be of good heart, for this time 
aU the vaun^tings of the Franks 
shall come true. The brags are 
fulfilled to the letter, and Hugo is 
so struck with the circumstance 
that he becomes Charles's man, 
and agrees to hold his kingdom of 
him, as " God must love him." 
Great festivities are celebrated, 
the Franks return to Prance, and 
Charles forgives his queen " for 
the love of the sepulchre." The 
Abb6 de la Rue judges from the 
language of this romance that it 
is " much earUer " than any other 
of the same class, and the latest 
date he wiU allow for it is the first 
decade of the twelfth century. 
This is agreed to by Michel. 
Ludlow thinks that according to 
the language and metre the 
poem is to be referred to the middle 
of the twelfth century, and per- 
haps even to its latter half. He 
also finds in it an echo of the 
" tumbhng of the Greek emperor 
from the throne by Baldwin and 
his Flemings " during the Fourth 
Crusade. Its fantastic character, 
too, seems to him to denote a period 
subsequent to the popularity of 
the Arthurian cycle. Viewed as 
an Anglo-Norman poem, it may, 
perhaps, be questioned whether 
the spirit of Charlemagne's voyage 
is not one of satire upon France. 
" The rivalry of the Third Crusade 
between Richard and Phihp — a 
rivalry which was national as 
well as personal — ^is perhaps here 
visible." 

(See Voyage d Jerusalem, ed. 



WAG 

E. Koschwitz, 1883 ; Ludlow, 
Popular Epics of the Middle Ages, 
London and Cambridge, 1865. 
The romance has also been edited 



375 WAL 

from the MS. in the British 
Museum by Michel and Pickering, 
1836. 



w 



WAGE, RIGHARD (or, according to 
some authorities Robert), The most 
famous of the early writers of 
British pseudo-history in romance 
verse, was a native of Jersey, where 
he was bom of a good family, pro- 
bably in the last decade of the 
eleventh century. His father was 
one of the Norman barons who 
accompanied the Conqueror to 
England and fought at Hastings. 
Educated for the Church at Caen, 
he completed his studies in various 
other parts of France, and after 
visiting England he returned to 
Caen, where he occupied the re- 
mainder of his hfe in writiug his 
romance poems. Late in hfe he 
was made a canon of Bayeaux on 
the recommendation of Henry II. 
The first of his " chronicles " is the 
Brut d'Angleterre, a translation 
into romance octosyllabic verse of 
the Historia Begum Britannice of 
Geoffrey of Monmouth, although 
it contains many things which are 
not to be found in that work. 
{Vide " Brut d'Angleterre.") This 
poem Wace presented to Eleanor 
of Aquitaine, the queen of Henry 
II. His other great work is the 
Boman de Bou, or the Romance of 
Bollo, a chronicle of the Dukes of 
Normandy, and he also wrote 
poems on the subjects of the Virgin 
and the Idfe of Saint Nicholas. 
There is reason for believing that 
he lived to an advanced age. 

Literature : Pluquet, Notice sur 
la Vie et les Ecrita de Robert Wace, 
1824. (See also under "Brut 
d'Angleterre.") 



WAGHILDB. A mermaid {vide 
" Dietrich of Bern "), who assisted 
Wittich to escape from Dietrich 
by taking him to her submarine 
castle. 

WALCHTHEOV. Wife of King 
Hrodgar {q.v.) of Jutland. She 
gave Beowulf {q.v.) a gold cup and 
a ring and necklace in gratitude 
for his slaying Grendel. 

WALDEMAR. King of the Reussen 
and son of Hermit {q.v.). He 
owed allegiance to Dietrich of 
Bern {q.v.), towards whom he was 
friendly. Latterly he was per- 
suaded to turn against the hero of 
Bern, with whom he fought to his 
own misfortune. 

WALTHAR OF AQUITAIN.— WAL- 
THARIUS OR WALTHAR OF AQUI- 
TAIN. A Latin poem ascribed by 
Fauriel to the eighth or ninth 
century, and by Grimm and 
Schmeller to the tenth. It is pro- 
bably the work of a monk, and is 
connected with the latter Nibe- 
lungenlied, which contains repeated 
allusions to it. Attila, King of 
the Huns, invades the Kingdom of 
the Franks ruled by Gibich. The 
latter is advised to pay tribute, 
and give hostages. His son Gun- 
thar being too young, he sends 
instead a noble youth named 
Hagan, along with great treasure. 
The Huns next attack the Bur- 
gundians, and are also success- 
ful, King Herric giving his only 
daughter, the beautiful Hildegund, 
as hostage. The Aquitainians also 



WAL 

coming under the power of the 
war-like Attila, King Alphue pays 
tribute and gives his only son 
Walthar — ^already affianced to 
HUdegund — ^as hostage. On re- 
turning to his capital, Attila shows 
great kindness to his hostages, 
and brings them up as his own 
children. The young men are 
instructed in all the war-Uke arts, 
tiU they surpass the Huns in 
prowess. On hearing news of 
Gibich's death and of Gunthar's 
succession, Hagan escapes. The 
queen fearing Walthar might 
follow his example suggests to 
Attila that Walthar should marry 
a Hunnish maiden. He pleads 
his unworthiness of the honour, and 
its interference with his military 
duties. The Mng is satisfied with 
his excuse, which seems confirmed 
in a victory gained by the army 
under Walthar. He persuades 
Hildegund to flee with him, saying 
he would have escaped before, 
but for his reluctance to leave her 
behind. As she has charge of the 
treasure he bids her fill two large 
chests with Hunnish money, take 
out a complete suit of armour and 
have them in readiness for their 
flight. On the day of their depar- 
ture, Walthar gives a grand feast 
to the king and aU his household. 
The wine is circulated freely, till 
the whole court is in a state of 
drunken helplessness. Walthar 
saddles his war-horse " Lion," and 
with the maiden and the treasure 
makes his escape. When the 
Huns awake from their stupor, the 
absence of the pair is discovered, 
and King Attila offers a large 
reward to any one who will pursue 
and capture Walthar. But none 
venture : Walthar's strength and 
valour are too well known. Still 
pursuing their flight, living on 
birds and fish, Walthar and Hilde- 
gund reach the Rhine, near Worms. 



376 WAL 

In return for ferrying them across, 
Walthar gives the ferryman fish, 
and he sells them to King Gun- 
thar's cook. The Mng deUghted 
at their flavour, inquires where 
they came from. The ferryman is 
summoned, and he relates his 
ferrying across of the armed 
warrior, the fair maiden, and the 
horse laden with the two chests. 
Hagan, who is at the table, declares 
it must be his old comrade Wal- 
thar, and Gunthar, thinking this a 
good chance to get back his father's 
treasure, sets out in search of him, 
accompanied by Hagan and twelve 
of his bravest chiefs. Meanwhile, 
Walthar in his flight comes upon a 
cave, wherein he decides to spend 
the night. Removing his heavy 
armour, and bidding Hildegund 
keep watch, and rouse him if she 
sees any one approaching, he takes 
his much-needed rest. But Gun- 
thar is on his track, and Hagan 
warns him that Walthar roused 
is not an easy enemy to deal with. 
Hildegund sees them coming, and 
wakens Walthar, who puts on his 
armour. She thinks they are 
Huns, and implores Walthar to 
kill her, rather than let her fall 
into their hands. He expresses 
his behef that God will save them 
from their enemies. Recognizing 
Hagan's helmet, he discovers they 
are Franks. On Hagan's advice, 
they hold parley with him. Wal- 
thar's Hfe will be granted on con- 
dition he gives up the treasure, the 
maiden, and also his horse. Wal- 
thar refuses, but promises to send 
the king a himdred armlets of red 
metal , if he will let him go . Hagan 
advises the king to accept the offer, 
because of a dream he had the 
previous night. The king taunts 
him with cowardice, and Hagan 
waxing wroth declares he will share 
neither the fight nor the spoil, and 
retires to a neighbouring hill to 



WAN 



377 



watch the fray. Walthar's en- 
campment was situated in such a 
manner that only one man could 
attack him at a time, and he 
vanquishes each of his enemies in 
single combat, among them 
Hagan's nephew, and only the 
king and Hagan remain. Gunthar 
pleads with Hagan to avenge his 
friends, which the latter at last 
promises to do, but determines to 
use strategem. They decide to 
tempt Walthar into the open, by 
pretending to go away. Hie ruse 
is successful. They meet and 
engage in deadly combat. Gun- 
thar loses a leg, Hagan an eye, and 
Walthar his right hand. Weak- 
ness makes the heroes lay down 
their arms. Hildegund binds their 
wounds, and brings them wine. 
A better understanding is arrived 
at between them. The Franks 
return to Worms, Walthar to 
Aquitain, where his marriage is 
celebrated with Hildegund. After 
his father's death, he rules the 
people wisely for many years. 

WANDERING JEW, THE. A 

mediaeval German legend, which 
from its wide diffusion and popular 
character partakes largely of the 
character of romance. The 
earliest mention extant of the 
Wandering Jew is to be found in 
the book of the chronicles of the 
Abbey of St. Albans, which was 
copied and continued by Matthew 
Paris. He records that in the 
year 1228, " a certain Archbishop 
of Armenia Major came on a pil- 
grimage to England to see the 
rehcs of the saints, and visit the 
sacred places in the kingdom, as he 
had done in others ; he also pro- 
duced letters of recommendation 
from His Holiness the Pope, to the 
rehgious men and prelates of 
the churches, in which they were 
enjoined to receive and entertain 



WAN 

him with due reverence and honour. 
On his arrival, he went to St. 
Albans, where he was received 
with all respect by the abbot and 
monks ; at this place, being 
fatigued with his journey, he 
remained some days to rest him- 
self and his followers, and a con- 
versation was commenced between 
him and the inhabitants of the 
convent, by means of their in- 
terpreters, during which he made 
many inquiries concerning the 
religion and religious observances 
of their country, and related many 
strange things concerning Eastern 
countries. In the course of con- 
versation he was asked whether 
he had ever seen or heard anything 
of Joseph, a man of whom there 
was much talk in the world, who, 
when our Eord suffered, was 
present and spoke to Him, and 
who is stiU alive, in evidence of 
the Christian faith ; in reply to 
which, a knight in his retinue, who 
was his interpreter, replied, 
speaking in French, ' My lord 
well knows that man, and a Uttle 
before he took his way to the 
Western countries, the said Joseph 
ate at the table of my lord the 
Archbishop in Armenia, and he had 
often seen and held converse with 
him.' He was then asked about 
what had passed between Christ 
and the same Joseph, to which he 
rephed, ' At the time of the 
suffering of Jesus Christ, He was 
seized by the Jews, and led into 
the hall of judgment before Pilate, 
the governor, that He might be 
judged by him on the accusation 
of the Jews ; and Pilate, finding 
no cause for adjudging Him to 
death, said to them, " Take Him 
and judge Him according to your 
law ; " the shouts of the Jews, 
however, increasing, he, at their 
request, released unto them Barab- 
bas, and dehvered Jesus to them 



WAN 



to be crucified. When, therefore, 
the Jews were dragging Jesus 
forth, and had reached the door, 
Cartaphilus, a porter of the hall, 
in Pilate's service, as Jesus was 
going out of the door, impiously 
struck Him on the back with his 
hand, and said in mockery, " Go 
quicker, Jesus, go quicker ; why 
do you loiter ? " and Jesus, looking 
back on him with a severe coun- 
tenance, said to him, " I am going, 
and you wiU wait tUl I return." ' 
And according, as our Lord said, 
this Cartaphilus is still awaiting 
His return. At the time of our 
Lord's suffering he was thirty years 
old, and when he attains the age of 
a hundred years, he always returns 
to the same age as he was when 
our Lord suffered. After Christ's 
death, when the Catholic faith 
gained ground, this Cartaphilus 
was baptized by Ananias (who 
also baptized the Apostle Paul), 
and was called Joseph. He often 
dwells in both divisions of Armenia, 
and other Eastern countries, pass- 
ing his time amidst the bishops and 
other prelates of the Church ; he 
is a man of holy conversation and 
religious ; a man of few words, 
and circumspect in his behaviour ; 
for he does not speak at all unless 
when questioned by the bishops 
and reHgious men ; and then he 
tells of the events of old times, 
and of the events which occurred 
at the suffering and resurrection 
of our Lord, and of the witnesses 
of the resurrection, namely, those 
who rose with Christ, and went 
into the holy city, and appeared 
unto men. He also teUs of the 
creed of the Apostles, and of their 
separation and preaching. And aU 
this he relates without smiHng or 
levity of conversation, as one who 
is well practised in sorrow and 
the fear of God, always looking 
forward with fear to the coming of 



378 WAN 

Jesus Christ, lest at the Last 
Judgment he should find Him in 
anger whom, when on His way to 
death, he had provoked to just 
vengeance. Numbers came to him 
from different parts of the world, 
enjoying his society and conversa- 
tion ; and to them, if they are 
men of authority, he explaios all 
doubts on the matters on which 
he is questioned. He refuses all 
gifts that are offered to him, beiug 
content with sHght food and 
clothing. He places his hope of 
salvation on the fact that he sinned 
through ignorance, for the Lord 
when suffering prayed for His 
enemies in these words, ' Father, 
forgive them, for they know not 
what they do.'" 

Much about the same date 
Phihp Mouskes, afterwards Bishop 
of Toumay, wrote his rhymed 
chronicle (1242), which contains 
a similar account of the Jew, 
derived from the same Armenian 
prelate. He says that this man 
having visited the shrine of " St. 
Tumas de Kantorbire," and then 
having paid his devotions at 
" Monseignour St. Jake," he went 
on to Cologne to see the heads of 
the three Mngs. The version told 
ia the Netherlands much resembled 
that related at S. Albans. 

Curiously enough, we next hear 
of him in the East, where he is 
confounded with the prophet 
EHjah. Early in the century he 
appeared to an Arab PadMlah, 
under pecuMar circumstances. 
After the Arabs had captured the 
city of Elvan; Fadhilah, at the 
head of three hundred horsemen, 
pitched his tents, late in the 
evening, between two mountains. 
Fadhilah having begun his evening 
prayer with a loud voice, heard the 
words "Allah akbar " (God is 
great) repeated distinctly, and each 
word of his prayer was followed 



WAN 



379 



in a similar manner. Fadliilah, not 
believing this to be the result of an 
echo, was much astonished, and 
cried out, " thou ! whether thou 
art of the angel ranks, or whether 
thou art of some other order of 
spirits, it is well, the power of God 
be with thee ; but if thou art a 
man, then let mine eyes light upon 
thee, that I may rejoice in thy 
presence and society." Scarcely 
had he spoken these words, before 
an aged man with bald head stood 
before him, holding a staff in his 
hand, and much resembhng a 
dervish in appearance. After 
having courteously saluted him, 
Fadhilah asked the old man who 
he was. Thereupon the stranger 
answered, " Bassi Hadhret Issa, 
I am here by command of the Eord 
Jesus, who has left me in this 
world, that I may Hve therein 
until He comes a second time to 
earth. I wait for this Eord who is 
the Fountain of Happiness, and 
in obedience to His command I 
dwell behind yon mountain." 
When FadMlah heard these words, 
he asked when the Eord Jesus 
would appear, and the old man 
replied that His appearing would 
be at the end of the world, at the 
East Judgment. But this only 
increased Fadhilah's curiosity, so 
that he inquired the signs of the 
approach of the end of all things, 
whereupon Zerib Bar Ella gave 
him an account of the general, 
social, and moral dissolution, 
which would be the cHmax of this 
world's history. In 1547 he was 
seen in Europe, if we are to beheve 
the following narration : " Paul 
von Eitzen, doctor of the Holy 
Scriptures, and Bishop of Schles- 
wig, related as true for some years 
past, that when he was young, 
having studied at Wittemberg, he 
returned home to his parents in 
Hamburg in the winter of the 



WAN 

year 1547, and that on the following 
Sunday, in church, he 6bserved a 
tall man with his hair hanging over 
his shoulders, standing barefoot 
during the sermon, over against 
the pulpit, listening with deepest 
attention to the discourse, and, 
whenever the name of Jesus was 
mentioned, bowing himself pro- 
foundly, and humbly, with sighs 
and beating of the breast. He had 
no other clothing in the bitter cold 
of the winter, except a pair of 
hose which were in tatters about 
his feet, and a coat with a girdle 
which reached to his feet ; and his 
general appearance was that of a 
man of fifty years. And many 
people, some of high degree and 
title, have seen this same man in 
England, France, Italy, Hungary, 
Persia, Spain, Poland, Moscow, 
Eapland, Sweden, Denmark, 
Scotland, and other places. 
Every one wondered over the 
man. Now after the sermon, the 
said Doctor inquired dihgently 
where the stranger was to be 
found, and when he had sought 
him out, he inquired of him 
privately whence he came, and 
how long that winter he had been 
in the place. Thereupon he 
repUed modestly, that he was a 
Jew by birth, a native of Jerusa- 
lem, by name Ahasuerus, by trade 
a shoemaker ; he had been present 
at the crucifixion of Christ, and 
has hved ever since, travelhng 
through various lands and cities, 
the which he substantiated by 
accounts he gave ; he related also 
the circumstances of Christ's 
transference from Pilate to Herod, 
and the final crucifixion, together 
with other details not recorded in 
the Evangehsts and historians ; 
he gave accounts of the changes 
of government in many countries, 
especially of the East, through 
several centuries, and moreover he 



WAN 

detailed the labours and deaths of 
the holy Apostles of Christ most 
circumstantially. Now when 
Doctor Paul von Eitzen heard this 
with profoimd astonishment, on 
account of its incredible novelty, 
he inquired further, in order that 
he might obtain more accurate 
information. Then the man 
answered that he had lived in 
Jerusalem at the time of the 
crucifixion of Christ, whom he had 
regarded as a deceiver of the people 
and a heretic ; he had seen Him 
with his own eyes, and had done 
his best, along with others, to 
bring this deceiver, as he regarded 
Him, to justice, and to have EQm 
put out of the way. When the 
sentence had been pronounced by 
Pilate, Christ was about to be 
dragged past his house ; then he 
ran home, and called together his 
household to have a look at Christ, 
and see what sort of a person He 
was. This having been done, he 
had his Httle child on his arm, and 
was standing in his doorway to 
have a sight of the Lord Jesus 
Christ. J^ then, Christ was led 
by, bowed under the weight of the 
heavy cross, He tried to rest a 
little, and stood still a moment ; 
but the shoemaker, in zeal and 
rage, and for the sake of obtaining 
credit among the other Jews, drove 
the Lord Christ forward, and told 
Him to hasten on His way. Jesus 
obeying, looked at him, and said, 
' I shall stand and rest, but thou 
shalt go till the last day.' At 
these words the man set down the 
child ; and unable to remain 
where he was, he followed Christ, 
and saw how cruelly He was 
crucified, how He suffered, how 
He died. As soon as this had 
taken place, it came upon him 
suddenly that he could no more 
return to Jerusalem, nor see again 
his wife and child, but must go 



380 WAN 

forth into foreign lands, one after 
another, like a mournful pilgrim. 
Now, when, years after, he returned 
to Jerusalem, he found it ruined 
and utterly razed, so that not one 
stone was left standing on another ; 
and he could not recognize former 
locahties. He believes that it is 
God's purpose in thus driving him 
about in miserable Ufe, and pre- 
serving him undying, to present 
him before the Jews at the end, as 
a living token, so that the godless 
and xmbeheving may remember 
the death of Christ, and be turned 
to repentance. For his part he 
would weU rejoice were God in 
heaven to release him from this 
vale of tears. After this conver- 
sation. Doctor Paul von Eitzen, 
along with the rector of the school 
of Hamburg, who was well read in 
history, and a traveller, questioned 
him about events which had taken 
place in the East since the death 
of Christ, and he was able to give 
them much information on many 
ancient matters ; so that it was 
impossible not to be convinced of 
the truth of his story, and to see, 
that what seems impossible with 
men is, after all, possible with God. 
Since the Jew has had his Hfe ex- 
tended, he has become silent and 
reserved, and only answers direct 
questions. When invited to 
become any one's guest, he eats 
little, and drinks in great modera- 
tion ; then hurries on, never re- 
maining long in one place. When 
at Hamburg, Dantzig, and else- 
where money has been offered him, 
he never took more than two 
skiUings (ild.), and at once dis- 
tributed it to the poor, as a token 
that he needed no money, for God 
would provide for him, as he rued 
the sins he had committed in 
ignorance. During the period of 
his stay in Hamburg and Dantzig 
he was never seen to laugh. In 



WAN 



381 



whatever land he travelled he 
spoke its language, and when he 
spoke Saxon, it was Uke a native 
Saxon. Many people came from 
different places to Hamburg and 
Dantzig in order to see and hear 
this man, and were convinced that 
the providence of God was exer- 
cised in this individual in a very 
remarkable manner. He gladly 
listened to God's word, or heard it 
spoken of always with great gravity 
and compunction, and he ever 
reverenced with sighs the pro- 
nunciation of the name of God, or 
of Jesus Christ, and could not 
endure to hear curses, but when- 
ever he heard any one swear by 
God's death or pains, he waxed 
indignant, and exclaimed, with 
vehemence and with sighs, 
' Wretched man and miserable 
creature, thus to misuse the name 
of thy Lord and God, and His 
bitter sufferings and passion. 
Hadst thou seen, as I have, how 
heavy and bitter were the pangs 
and wounds of thy Lord, endured 
for thee and me, thou wouldst 
rather undergo great pain thyself 
than thus take His sacred name ia 
vain ! ' Such is the account given 
to me by Doctor Paul von Eitzen, 
with many circumstantial proofs, 
and corroborated by certain of my 
own old acquaintances who saw 
this same individual with their 
own eyes in Hamburg. In the 
year 1575, the Secretary Chris- 
topher Krause, and Master Jacob 
von Holstein, legates to the Court 
of Spain, and afterwards sent into 
the Netherlands to pay the soldiers 
serving his Majesty in that country, 
related on their return home to 
Schleswig, and confirmed with 
solemn oaths, that they had come 
across the same mysterious in- 
dividual at Madrid, in Spain, in 
appearance, manner of life, habits, 
clothing, just the same as he had 



WAN 

appeared in Hamburg. They said 
that they had spoken with him, 
and that many people of all classes 
had conversed with him, and found 
him to speak good Spanish. In 
the year 1599, in December, a 
reliable person wrote from Bruns- 
wick to Strasburg that the same- 
mentioned strange person had 
been seen aUve at Vienna in 
Austria, and that he had started 
for Poland and Dantzig ; and that 
he purposed going on to Moscow. 
This Ahasuerus was at Lubeck in 
1601, also about the same date in 
Revel in Livonia, and in Cracow 
in Poland. In Moscow he was 
seen of many and spoken to by 
many. What thoughtful God- 
fearing persons are to think of the 
said person, is at their option. 
God's works are wondrous and 
past finding out, and are mani- 
fested day by day, only to be 
revealed in fuU at the last great 
day of account." Thus ends thf 
narrative of Doctor von Eitzen. 
In 1604, the Jew seems to have 
appeared in Paris. Rudolph 
Botereus says under this date : 
" I fear lest I be accused of giving 
ear to old wives' fables, if I insert 
in these pages what is reported all 
over Europe of the Jews, coeval 
with the Saviour Christ ; how- 
ever, nothing is more common, 
and our popular histories have not 
scrupled to assert it. Following 
the lead of those who wrote our 
annals I may say that he who 
appeared not in one century only, 
in Spain, Italy, and Germany, was 
also in this year seen and recog- 
nized as the same individual who 
had appeared in Hamburg in the 
year 1566. The common people, 
bold in spreading reports, relate 
many things of him ; and this I 
allude to, lest any thing should be 
left unsaid." J. C. Bulenger puts 
the date of the Hamburg visit 



WAS 

earlier. " It was reported at this 
time that a Jew of the time of 
Christ was wandering without food 
and drink, having for a thousand 
and odd years been a vagabond 
and outcast, condemned by God 
to rove, because he, of that genera- 
tion of vipers was the first to cry 
out for the crucifixion of Christ 
and the release of Barabbas ; and 
also because soon after, when 
Christ, panting under the burden 
of the rood, sought to rest before 
his workshop (he was a cobbler), 
the fellow ordered him off with 
acerbity. Thereupon Christ re- 
pUed : ' Because thou grudgest 
Me such a moment of rest, I shall 
enter into My rest, but thou shalt 
wander restless.' At once frantic 
and agitated he fled through the 
whole earth, and on the same 
account to this day he journeys 
through the world. It was this 
person who was seen in Hamburg 
in 1564. Credat Judaeus Apella ! 
I did not see him or hear any- 
thing authentic concerning him 
at that time when I was in 
Paris ! " 

We must regard the legend of the 
Wandering Jew as the epic of the 
Semite people in the middle ages. 
It is obvious from the versions 
just quoted that the story has no 
foundation in fact. It is a 
mediaeval legend, pure and simple, 
and bears the stamp of the middle 
ages strongly upon it. The 
burgher of Gtermany, Poland, or 
Austria or the citizen of Paris or 
Padua noticing the Jewish Pedlar 
in his locahty, would see in the 
stranger who avoided all unneces- 
sary converse that outcast whose 
impious act had condemned him 
to wander for ever until the day 
upon which the dreadful curse was 
lifted and his wanderings would 
end. But the legend of the Wan- 
dering Jew has its mythical side 



382 WAS 

• as well as a purely legendary one, 
and this side is perhaps the more 
interesting of the two. 

In some parts of Germany we 
find the Wandering Jew identified 
with the Wild Huntsman, whilst 
in several French districts that 
mythical character is regarded as 
the wind of night, which, riotiug 
through the night-bound country 
seems to the peasant crouching in 
his hut, to bring in his train a 
howhng pack of hounds with 
which he chases a spectral deer. 
The blast is his horn, which, 
rushing through the valleys, 
creates a hollow, booming sound, 
not unlike a great bugle. In this 
legend we have in all probability 
the clue to the mythological side 
of the story of the Wandering Jew. 
In this connection he is almost 
certainly the wind which, con- 
stantly wandering round the world 
seldom halts for long in one place. 
Or, perhaps the idea of the Wander- 
ing Jew has become confounded or 
fused with that of the idea of the 
wind. Of course to commence 
with the two ideas would be quite 
distinct, and it would only be 
when the myth had attained a 
respectable antiquity that it would 
become confounded with the idea 
of the wind. The hkeness between 
the two conceptions would be too 
great to escape the popular mind, 
always ready to confoimd similar 
stories or legendary ideas. From 
a hterary point of view, the 
legend of the Wandering Jew 
has been treated with consider- 
able sMU by Eugene Sue and 
Croly. 

WASTE CITY, KING OF THE. He is 

mentioned in the GraU legends 
as " hating all Christian folk." 
He seems to have employed a 
" hideous hag " to do his evil 
deeds, whom Percival overcomes. 



WAS 

WASTE LAND. Mentioned in 
Arthurian legend as bringing 
destruction and pestilence. Blio- 
cadrans' child, Percival, is brought 
up in this forest by his mother, 
who warns him against " men 
covered with iron — they are 
devils." 

WATE OF STURMEN. {Vide " Gud- 
run Lay," 2nd and 3rd divisions 
of, under headings " Hagen and 
Hettel," and " Gudrun.") Uncle 
of Horant, Lord of Daneland. He 
brought up King Hettel (q.v.), 
and later formed one of the em- 
bassy sent by him to win Hilda 
of Ireland {q.v.). He is described 
as a grim warrior, more used to 
fighting than to court Hfe ; he 
won the friendship of King Hagen 
{q.v.), chiefly through his skilful 
swordsmanship. He took part in all 
the conflicts connected with the 
winning of Hilda for Hettel, and 
on the reconciHation produced a 
healing root to cure the wounded. 
{Vide " B.a,geu and Hettel" for 
details.) He brought up Hettel's 
son Ortwein, and fought fiercely in 
aU the battles to secure the free- 
dom of Gudrun, proving a terror 
to the enemy. At the rescue of 
Gudrun he slaughtered relent- 
lessly, slaying even women — Ger- 
Unte {q.v.) and Heregart {q.v.). 
He was a mighty warrior, but 
fierce and bloodthirsty, never 
wiUing to show mercy, and loth 
that anyone else should do so. 
Ludlow considers that a descrip- 
tion of Wate's valour occurs in 
Priest Conrad's version of the 
Song of Roland (1173 to 1177). 

WAYLAND'S ARMLET. ( Vide "Frith- 
jof Saga.") A strange gift of Way- 
land Smith to an ancestor of 
Thorsten, the father of the Ice- 
landic hero Frithjof {q.v.). But 
the Viking Sote stole the armlet 
from Thorsten, and was pursued 



383 WER 

to Britain by the thane and his 
royal friend King Bel6. Here in a 
cavern they beheld the spirit of 
the dead Sot6 sitting upon the mast 
of his ship, swathed in fire, and 
scouring in vain his bloody sword 
blade. On his arm was the ring 
which Thorsten at a terrible and 
untold cost wrested from him. 
This armlet became one of the 
three possessions of Frithjof. 

WERE- WOLF, THE LAY OF THE. A 

Breton romance written by Marie 
de France {q.v.). The Were-Wolf, 
named Bisclavaret in Brittany and 
Garwal in Normandy, is a human 
being transformed by art-magic 
into a fearsome, man-devouring 
beast that lurks in the woods. 
This lay tells of a baron who lay 
near to the heart of his lord, and 
was loved and esteemed of all. 
Greatly did he love his wife and 
greatly she loved him. But she 
would fain know what kept him 
from her side three days in each 
week. Importuned, he at last 
related to her his secret. He 
became, during those days a were- 
wolf, having concealed his clothes 
in a hidden spot, because if he did 
not find them again he would 
remain a beast for ever. Of this 
secret, too, she got possession, and 
fearing to hve longer with her 
husband, gave to a lover the 
affection he had so long asked of 
her. She further instructed him 
how he might spoil the were-wolf 
of his vesture. The two were wed, 
and for more than a year no one 
heard about the king's favourite 
noble. But one day as the 
monarch was himting in the woods, 
he made up upon the were-wolf, 
who, with human gestures, prayed 
protection. Marvelling at the 
creature's suppHcation, the king 
forbade his companions to molest 
it, and returned to his court. 



WIC 



followed by the strange animal. 
Day by day he grew fonder of his 
quarry, nor was there any one who 
did not make much of the beast. 
Once, however, at a great feast 
given by the king to his nobles 
and vassals, the animal flew at 
the knight of the lady who had 
betrayed her former lord. And 
again when that lady visited the 
king in a certain lodge, whither 
he had taken the wolf with him, 
Bisclavaret tore off her nose. A 
cunning counsellor surmised some 
reason for this fierceness on the 
animal's part. He therefore 
advised the king to put both the 
knight and his wife in surety, and 
demand of them what they knew 
concerning the wolf. They were 
forced to teU the truth, and by the 
same wise lord's counsel Bis- 
clavaret's clothing was laid before 
him. But the animal, ashamed 
to become man again in the 
pubhc view, took, as it were, no 
heed of the raiment. The king 
shut it up in a private apartment 
for a time, and upon entering that 
apartment found his lost knight 
sleeping upon the royal bed like 
a child. Great was the joy of all 
at the recovery of the noble. But 
his false wife and her lover were 
banished from the realm. 

WICHSTAN. A warrior of Gothland 
mentioned in the legend of 
Beovmlf (q.v.). He avenged King 
Hardred's murder by slaying 
Eanmund. ( Firfe " Hardred " and 
" Eanmund.") Beowulf was his 
dearest friend and in that hero's 
struggle with the dragon, Wichstan 
was the only warrior brave enough 
to go to the king's aid, which he 
did so effectually that Beowulf 
was able to slay the dragon. 
Beowulf bade Wichstan carry the 
dragon's treasure out of the cave, 
and after doing this, Wichstan in 



384 WIL 

sorrow watched his master breathe 
his last. 



WIELAND or WAYLAND. The smith, 
a famous character in German 
mythological romance, and father 
of Weltich (q.v.), whom he trained 
in the art of warfare and sent to 
the court of Dietrich of Bern 
{q.v.). Before he despatched his 
son he presented him with the 
good sword Miming, and told him 
of a mermaid, who married his 
great-grandfather King Wilkinus. 
To her he must apply when in 
difiBculty. He is further referred 
to in the Sigfried (q.v.), story as 
being in company with a smith 
named Mmer, when Sigfried 
Joins the smithy. We find his 
workmanship much praised in the 
Beowolf iq.v.) tales, and his 
armour, which the hero wears, 
proves impregnable against the 
onslaught of Grendal (q.v.) the 
giantess and the dragon. He is 
the supernatural and semi-divine 
smith of the Teutonic peoples as 
Vulcan is that of the Romans and 
Hephaistos of the Greeks, and his 
smithy is traditionally referred to 
as being underground. 

WILKIN A SAGA. {Vide "Thidreks- 
saga.") 

WILLIAM OF MALMESBURY. An 

EngUsh chronicler of the twelfth 
century whose voluminous writings, 
all of them in Latin, are of the 
utmost value as historical docu- 
ments, and are hkewise of con- 
siderable moment to the student of 
early romantic literature. Little 
is known of William's Ufe, but it 
is probable that he was bom about 
1090, and sundry passages in his 
books suggest that Somerset was 
his native shire. He spent his 
childhood in Malmesbury Abbey, 
and it is recorded that, while 
still a mere boy, he showed such 



WIL 



38^ 



erudition that he was employed by 
the abbot to aid in forming and 
arranging the monastery's hbrary. 
Espousing the monastic life, and 
incited to scholarship by his father, 
WiUiam soon became famous for his 
knowledgeof logic,medicine,ethics, 
and many other branches of learn- 
ing. In course of time, accordingly, 
he was appointed Ubrarian at Mal- 
mesbury, and thenceforth he gave 
his activities chiefly to historical 
research. By 1 125 he had finished 
his two most important works, 
Gesta Begum Anglorum and Gesta 
Pontificum Anglorum, while at a 
subsequent date he compiled a 
history of the Abbey of Glaston- 
bury, which was not far from his 
own. He seems, indeed, to have 
been connected with the former 
in some way, for he refers to it as 
the monastery " wherein I am a 
professed soldier of Heaven," and 
the probabUity is that he stayed 
at Glastonbury for a while with a 
view to studying its records the 
more thoroughly. Be that as it 
may, he was twice offered the 
Abbacy of Malmesbury, but he 
declined on both occasions, con- 
tinuing to pursue his historical 
studies ; while he also found a 
certain amount of time for travel, 
making a pilgrimage once to 
Rome, and likewise visiting many 
parts of England. The year of 
his death is not definitely known, 
but it is commonly supposed to 
have been 1143. William's Gesta 
Begum Anglorum begins with the 
shadowy dawn of Enghsh history, 
and ends at the year 1127 ; while 
the chronicler wrote a sequel 
thereto entitled Historia Novella, 
and this extends to the year 1142. 
The historian was personally 
acquainted with most of the 
leading men of his own day, 
namely the reigns of Henry I. 
and Stephen ; but, while this gives 



WIL 

his writing on that period an 
especial significance, the opening 
parts of his Gesta Begum are per- 
haps equally important. The two 
great abbeys with which Wilham 
was connected were treasure- 
houses of historical material, docu- 
mentary and legendary ; and thus 
the author was enabled to draw 
freely on the oldest ballad litera- 
ture of England, while it is even 
probable, as John Richard Green 
points out, that he utihzed many 
things now lost. Hence the 
interest which his works hold for 
the scholar of romance, while his 
Gestis Pontificum Anglorum is 
literally the foundation on which 
aU ensuing writers on English 
ecclesiastical history have built. 

Literature : Gesta Begum and 
Historia Novella were first printed 
in 1596, and the former has been 
repeatedly pubhshed during recent 
times, the best such edition being 
one edited by Professor Stubbs 
in the Rolls Series (1887-89). 
The editor's preface to this is im- 
portant, while the student should 
also consult the Ldfe and Writings 
of WiUiam of Malmesbury by W. 
de Gray Birch (transaction of the 
Royal Society of literature, 
Vol. X., new series). The signi- 
ficance of William's histories has 
been amply recognized, and they 
have been utihzed by all the best 
Enghsh historians, notably Green 
in his History of the English People. 

WILLIAM OP ORANGE. A sub-cycle 
of the Charlemagne epic, which 
later expanded into an " enor- 
mous and incoherent " cycle of 
the kinship of Garin of Montglane 
{q.v.), and Aymery of Narhonne, 
and which was connected through 
the former with the sub-cycle of 
the Lorrainers {q.v.). The various 
poems of which it is composed are 
chiefly referred to the eleventh 
2 o 



WIL 



386 



WIL 



century, and include Enfances 
Ghdllaume, Departement des Enfans 
Aimeri, La Mort Aymeri de Nar- 
bonne, Siege de Narbonne, Le Char- 
roi de Nimes, Prise d'Orange, En- 
fances \Vivien, Le Covenant Vivien, 
Aliscans, Le Moniage Chiillaume I., 
Le Moniage Guillaume II., Le 
Moniage Renouart, Le Bataille de 
Loquifer. It is obvious that the 
central figure in these romances is 
a composite one, whose historic 
personality is far from clear. 
Indeed, the cycle is replete with 
anachronisms and brings together 
districts separated by the width 
of Prance in most incongruous 
proximity. WiUiam is alluded to 
as an historical personage by 
chroniclers of the reigns of Louis 
le Debonair and Charlemagne, but 
the individual mentioned by them, 
later became confounded with other 
Wilhams, among them WiUiam 
Fierabras, WiUiam " Shortnose," 
WiUiam of Toulouse, WiUiam I. 
of Provence, and a WUliam of 
Bezalu. The veritable WiUiam 
with whom these others were 
afterwards confounded, was put 
in the place of Count Orso of 
Toulouse when the latter was sur- 
prised and defeated by Adelori 
the Gascon. He queUed that 
chief, and as Duke of Aquitaine 
became standard-bearer of the 
empire. In 793 he inflicted a 
heavy check upon the " Saracens," 
and assisted in the taking of 
Barcelona by liouis in 801. He 
founded the Abbey of GeUone, 
which he entered, and where he 
died May 28, 812. His Ufe was 
written by St. Cerdo, disciple 
of St. Benedict of Anniane, in 
823 or 824. His exploits became 
the theme of song about the end 
of the eleventh century. The 
cycle of the children of Oarin 
of Montglane and Amyery of 
Narbonne which has grown around 



of Orange comprises no 
less than 120,000 lines, the latest 
portions being in Alexandrines 
with a short line at the close. 
There is a large variety of texts. 
Por the matter of the sub-cycle, 
see the titles of the several ro- 
mances which compose it. 

lAtercUure : Becker, Die alt- 
franwsische Wilhelmsage, HaUe, 
1896 ; Jonckbloet, Guillaume 
d'Orange, 1854 ; Gautier, Epopies 
Francises, Vol. IV. Por works 
on the various romances of the 
sub-cycle, see under their titles. 

WILLIAM OF PALERMO. This 
Prench metrical romance was 
written at the desire of a Countess 
Yolande, daughter of Baldwin IV., 
count of Planders. The EngUsh 
poem in aUiterative verse was 
written about 1350 by a poet 
caUed William, at the desire of 
Humphrey Bohun, Earl of Here- 
ford (d. 1361). GuUlaume, a 
foundling supposed to be of low 
degree, is brought up at the court 
of the Emperor of Rome, and loves 
his daughter Mehor who is destined 
for a Greek prince. The lovers 
flee into the woods disguised in 
bear -skins. Alfonso, who is 
GuiUaume's cousin and a Spanish 
prince, has been changed into a 
wolf by his stepmother's en- 
chantments. He provides food 
and protection for the fugitives, 
and Guillaume eventuaUy triumphs 
over Alfonso's father, and wins 
back from him his kingdom. The 
benevolent were-wolf is disen- 
chanted, and marries GuiUaume's 
sister. 

WILLIAM (" the proud one of Mont- 
chn"). {Vide " Garin the Eor- 
rainer.") Son of Count Hardre, 
and one of the four young knights 
who fought against Richard of 
Normandy, and the " four kings " 
who besieged Thierry, King of 



WIT 



Savoy. He joined with Bernard 
of NaisQ after his fight with Garin, 
and he also fought with Bego, 
whom he was most anxious to kill, 
but he made peace afterwards with 
Garin. One of his sons became 
Garin's godchild, and got from him 
^a market at Metz. He fought 
against Garin at the attack made 
upon him in which he was slain. 

WITTICH, SON OF WILLAND. A 

notable character in the story of 
Dietrich of Bern (q.v.), towards 
whom he was a faithful ally. His 
deeds of heroism won him high 
renown. He took part in the 
successful Battle of the Rose 
Garden (q.v.), but in the march 
to Etzel he was taken prisoner. 
His release was followed by his 
marriage to Bolfiana. He subse- 
quently offended his royal master, 
who pursued him to the sea, into 
which he plunged, and was received 
by the mermaid Wachilde {q.v.). 

WOLFHART. {Vide "Dietrich of 
Bern.") A follower of Dietrich of 
Bern {q.v.). He figured con- 
spicuously in the battle of the 
Great Rose Garden {q.v.). He also 
took part in the unfortunate war 
against Ermenrich {q.v.). 

WOLFRAM VON ESCHENBACH. 

Author of the Arthurian romance 
of Parzival {q.v.), was bom at the 
small town of Eschenbach near 
Ansbach, and died about 1220. 
He was descended from a poor but 
iioble family, and speedily found 
his place among that circle of 



387 YON 

poets who at the end of the twelfth 
century clustered around the 
brilUant court of Hermann, Land- 
grave of Thuringia. Although 
Wolfram wrote many of his poems 
at the Wartburg near Eisenach, 
he did not reside there permanently, 
as he found it necessary on occasion 
to follow the fortunes of Count 
Wertheim, his feudal lord. He is 
in no way to be confounded with 
the class of strolhng minstrels who 
thronged the Thuringian court, 
whose methods hterary and social 
he strongly condemns in his 
Parzival. That his muse was by 
no means venal is proved by the 
circumstances that not one of his 
poems is dedicated to a prince, 
although his Parzival is very 
appropriately dedicated to a noble 
lady whom he loved, and whose 
name he has not disclosed. His 
great epic of Parzival was com- 
posed about the year 1204, and 
his Willehalm (a translation of the 
French " William of Orange " 
sub-cycle of the Charlemagne 
cycle), probably in 1215-1216. 
No further facts concerning him 
have come down to us. His 
work proves him to have been 
the possessor of a nature spiritual, 
exalted and deeply imbued with 
the true spirit of poetry, and 
though his Parzival does not 
possess the literary poUsh of the 
similar poem of Chretien de 
Troyes, it is more poetic in con- 
ception and richer in human 
interest and pathos. {Vide 
" Parzival.") 



YELLOW BOOK OF LECAN. An 
Irish manuscript of the ninth cen- 
tury containing the tale of Cuchu- 
lain and Connla (q.v.). 

YLIAS. {Vide " Dietrich of Bern.") 



Son of King Hermit {q.v.), and 
Yarl of the Greeks. 

YONEC, THE LAY OF. A French lai 
written by Marie de France {q.v.). 
The Lord of Chepstow, an old 



YOU 

man, had wedded a young, beau- 
tiful and gay wife. In his jealousy 
he had shut her up in a tower and 
set his widowed sister to guard 
her. For seven years the unhappy 
lady dwelt in this pUght until one 
day she gave vent to her sorrow 
when the old woman was out of 
hearing. A hawk flew in at the 
window and became transformed 
into a handsome knight. Her 
terror over, she grew to love the 
stranger. She felt a new Joy in 
her life and regained her lost 
beauty. This the jealous husband 
noticed, and by a snare learned the 
cause. In wrath, he set four 
sharp swords against the window ; 
and, as he foresaw, the unwitting 
bird met his death-wound upon 
them. Distracted, the lady could 
not be comforted, and when the 
hawk flew away she leapt from the 
window, twenty feet to the ground. 
Following his flight by the blood- 
drops she at last found him in his 
palace in a silver city. The dying 
knight prayed her to be gone 
before his folk slew her as the 
cause of their lord's death. He 
put his ring upon her finger, telling 
her that as long as she wore it her 
husband would not think of her ; 
and giving her his sword bade her 
render it to none till their son 
should be esteemed a brave and 
worthy knight. Then would she 
and her lord go to a feast, and 
would lodge in an abbey where 
should be seen a fair tomb. Here 
would the son learn his history, and 



388 ZER 

here he would be girt with the 
sword. With difficulty the lady 
reached her tower, uioheeded of 
her lord ; and in due time gave 
birth to a son, whom she named 
Yonec. He grew up unmatched 
for beauty, generosity and skUl 
with the spear. Time drew on 
and he was dubbed knight. That 
same year he went with his mother 
and her husband to observe the 
festival of Aaron. On the way to 
Carleon the company were lodged 
in an abbey where they beheld a 
very beautiful and elaborate tomb. 
The son learned that herein lay 
his father, and taking the sword 
from his mother he smote off her 
husband's head. The lady died 
upon the tomb, was buried beside 
her lover ; and Yonec was pro- 
claimed king of that realm. 

YOUTH. In Irish romance the 
maiden who put the love spot upon 
Dermot's {q.v.) brow. 

YROLT OF ORTLAND. {Vide "Gu- 
drun Lay," and " Hagen and 
Hettel.") One of the embassy 
from King Hettel to win Hilda, 
daughter of Hagen. He takes 
part ill the action described in 
" Gudrun." 

YWAIN. Son of King Uriens, in 
Grail legend, the adulterer ; also 
referred to as Owain, Ewayne, 
Yones. Sir Galahad finds King 
Bagdemagus and Ywain and " U 
aoutres " at an abbey in the course 
of his quest. 



ZERBINO. Son of the King of Scot- 
land, a character in Ariosto's 
Orlando Furioso. He it was who 
gathered together the arms and 
weapons which Orlando in his 



madness had left scattered on the 
field. He formed them into a 
trophy to be preserved for the 
hero when he should be restored 
to reason, but omitted to include 



ZER 



389 



among them the sword of Orlando, 
which was called Durandal. This 
had been secured by the evil Moor, 
Manricardo, whom he met and 
challenged. The weapons of 



ZER 

Manricardo were charmed, so that 
the armour of Zerbino was 
shattered at each blow, and, 
mortally wounded, he expired in 
the arms of Isabel, his betrothed. 



2 o 2 



BIBLIOGBAPHY OF STANDARD WORKS ON 
MEDIiEVAL ROMANCE. 

English and Scx)ts Romance. 

Catalogue of Romances in the British Museam, Ward, 1883. 

Specimens of Early EngUsh Metrical Romances, George Ellis, 1805. 

Reliques of Ancient English Poetry, Thomas Percy, 1774. 

Publications of the Roxburghe Club. 

Publications of the Bannatyne Club. 

Publications of the Ifeitland Club. 

Publications of the Abbotsford Qub. 

PubUcations of the Early English Text Society. 

Early Scottish Metrical Tales, David Laing, 1826. 

The Ancient Popular Poetry of Scotland, David Laing, 1822. 

Early EngUsh Prose Romances, William J. Thorns. 

Early Prose Romances, ed. Prof. Henry Morley. 

(The two preceding works are pubhshed in one volume in the " Early 
Novelists " Library, ed. E. A. Baker.) 
EngUsh Writers, Henry Morley, 1866. 
Specimens of Early EngUsh, Skeat, 1887. 
Ritson, Ancient EngUsh Metrical Romances, 1802. 
Chronicle of Scottish Poetry, Sibbald, 1802. 
Metrical Romances, Weber, 1810. 
Select Pieces of Early Popular Poetry, Utterson, 1817. 
Ancient Metrical Tales, Hartshome, 1829. 

Havelok the Dane, Sir Frederick Madden, 1828 (Roxburghe Club). 
WilUam the Werewolf, Sir Frederick Madden, 1832 (Roxburghe Club). 
The Bulk of Alexander the Great, 1834 (Bannatyne Club). 
The Seven Sagas in Scotch Metre, JohnRoUand of Dalkieth, 1837 (Bannatyne 

Qub). 
Sir Bevis of Hamtoun, 1838 (Maitland Club), 
aariodus, 1830 (Maitland Qub). 
Rowland and Vemagu, 1836 (Abbotsford Club). 
History of EngUsh Poetry, Warton, 1778. 
Cambridge History of EngUsh Literature, vol. i. 
Flourishing of Romance and Rise of Allegory, Prof. Saints bury, 1897 

(deals with romance generaUy). 
Epic and Romance, Prof. Ker, 1896 (also general in treatment). 
Guide to the Middle EngUsh Metrical Romances, Billings, 1901. 

Aethtteian Romances. 

Historia Britonum, Nennius (Eng. Hist. Society). 

Historia Regum Britanniae, Geoffrey of Monmouth (S. Evans, 1903). 



392 BIBLIOGRAPHY OF STANDARD WORKS ON 

Li Romans de Brut, Wace (ed. by Leroux de Lincy, 1835-38). 

Brut, Layamon (ed. Sir Frederick Madden), 1847. 

The Round Table Before Wace, Prof. A. Brown (Harvard Studies and 

Notes, vol. viii.). 
The Round Table, Dr. Lewis Mott (Publ. Mod. Lang. Assoc, of America). 
Merlin (ed. Dr. Oskar Sommer), 1894. 

MerUn, Suite de (from the Huth MS., ed. by G. Paris and J. Ulrich), 1890-91. 
Le Morte Arthur, ed. FumivaU, 1854 ; (Roxburghe Club), 1819 ; J. D. 

Bruce, 1903 ; Hemmingway, Boston, 1912. 
Morte Arthure, Halliwell, 1847 ; Banks, 1900. 

Le Morte d'Arthur, Sir Thomas Malory (ed. Dr. Oskar Sommer), 1889-90-91. 
Survey of Arthurian Romance, Jessie L. Weston, 1905. 
Syr Gawajmp (ed. Sir Fredk. Madden). 

Syr Gawayne and the Grene Knyght (ed. R. Morriss, E.E.T.S.). 
Sir Gawain, a study on the Legend, by Jessie L. Weston, 1897 (Grimm 

Library). 
Diu Krone, Heinrich von dem Tiirlin, ed. SchoU, 1852. 
Le Conte del Graal, Chretien de Troyes (ed. Potvin — very scarce), 1866-71. 
Parzival, Wolfram von Eschenbach, ed. Lachmann ; ed. Bartsch, 1875-77. 
The High History of the Holy Grail (Perceval li Gallois), trans, by Sebastian 

Evans, 1898. 
Romans de la Table Roimd, Paulin Paris. 
Queste del Saint Graal (ed. FumivaU), 1864. 
Tristan, Gottfried von Strassburg (ed. Bechstein), 1889. 
Le Roman en Prose de Tristan, E. LSseth, 1892. 
Der Heutige Stand der Tristan Forschung, Dr. Rottiger, 1897. 
Lais, Marie de France (ed. Wamcke), 1885. 
Iwein, Hartmann von Aue (ed. Bech), 1888. 
Le Saint-Graal, Hucher, 1875-78. 
Die Sage vom Graal, Birch-Hirschfeld, 1877. 
Studies on the Legend of the Holy Grail, Nutt, 1888. 
Die franzosischen Gralromane, Heinzel. 
Sage V. heil. Gral, 1898, Wechssler. 

Glastonbury et Avalon, Ferd. Lot, in Romania, vol. xxvii. 
The Parzival of Wolfram von Eschenbach, J. L. Weston. 
Les demiers travaux AUemands sur la 16gende du Saint Graal, A. Nutt (see 

Folk-Lore, 1892). 
Arthurian Legend, Rhys. 

Celtic Romance. 

Cours de Litterature celtique, d'Arbois de Jubainville. 

Celtic Britain, Rhys. 

A Literary History of Ireland, Hyde, 1899. 

Silva Gadelica, O'Grady. 

Old Celtic Romances, Joyce, 1894. 

Literature of the Kymry, Stephens, 1876. 

The Mabinogion, Lady Charlotte Guest (ed. Nutt), 1902. 

Hibbert Lectures, Rhys, 1888. 

Four Ancient Books of Wales (ed. Skene), 1868. 

Myvyrian Archeology, 1801. 



MEDIEVAL ROMANCE 393 

The Black Book of Carmarthen (ed. Evans). 
Mythology of the British Islands, Squire, 1905. 
Transactions of the Ossianic Society, Dublin, 1854-61. 
The Voyage of Bran, A. Nutt, 1895-97. 
The CuchulMn Saga in Irish Literature, 1898. 
Gods and Fighting Men, Lady Gregory, 1904. 

French Romance. 

(Note. — ^Numerous French romances have been translated into English, 
and are included in the Ust of English and Arthurian romances given 
above.) 

Roman de Renart (ed. Meon et Chabaille), 1826-35 ; ed. Martin, 1882-87. 

Roman de la Rose (ed. Michel), 1864. 

Aucassin et Nicolette (trans. A. Lang), 1887 ; (trans. A. BourdiUon), 1887. 

Classiques frangais du moyen 4ge (6 vols. publ. 1911, rest in progress). 

Des Ouvrages inedits de la htterature frangaise du moyen age, Crapelet, 1834. 

Be Roman de MeUador, Froissart (ed. A. Longuas), 1895. 

Melanges de litterature frangaise du moyen fi.ge, Gaston, Paris (ed. Mario 

Roques), 1910-11. 
Romania (a pubUcation devoted to the study of French romantic hterature, 

founded in 1872). 
Histoire de la Litterature Frangaise, Lauson, 1895. 

Histoire de la Langue et de la Litterature Frangaise (ed. Petit de Juleville). 
Specimens of Old French, Paget Toynbee, 1892. 
Le Roman de Troie, Benoit de Sainte-More (ed. Joly), 1870. 
Alexandre le Grand dans la Litterature Frangaise au Moyen Age, Paul 

Meyer, 1886. 
Roman d'Alixandre (ed. Mchelant), 1846. 
NouveUes Frangaises du Quatorzi^me si6cle, Moland and d'Hericault, BibUo- 

th6que Elzevirienne, 1856. 
Troilus (ed. Moland and d'Hericault, as above). 
Fabliaux et Contes, Meon, 1808. 
Chatelaine de Vergi, S. Reynaud, Romania, vol. xxi., 1892. 

Chaelbmagne Romances. 
(Chansons de Geste.) 

Ees Epopees Frangaises, Leon Gautier, 1878-82. 

L'Histoire poetique de Charlemagne, Gaston Paris, 1865. 

BibHographie des Chansons de Geste, Gautier, 1877. 

Popular Epics of the Middle Ages, Ludlow, 1865. 

Couronnement Looys (ed. E. Langlois), 1888. 

Lyf of Charles the Grete (Early Eng. Text Society). 

Turpin's Chronicle (ed. F. Castels), 1880. 

Fierabras (in Recueil des Ancien Pontes de la France, vol. iv.), 1860 ; English 

trans, in Early Ei^. Text Society. 
Chanson de Roland (ed. Leon Gautier). 
The Song of Roland, by A. Way and F. Spencer, 1895. 
Chanson des Saisnes, J. Bodel (ed. F. Michel), 1835. 



394 BIBLIOGRAPHY OF STANDARD WORKS ON 

Girard de Vienne (ed. P. Tarbe), 1850. 
Ogier le Danois (Chevalerie Ogier), ed. J. Barrois, 1842. 
Die alt-franzosische Wilhelmsage, Prof. Becker, 1896. 
GuiUaume d'Orange, Jonckbloet, 1854. 

German. 

(Several German romances are noted under the heading " Arthurian." 
Such works as refer to both German and Norse literature are marked 
with an asterisk.) 

Heldensage, Rassmann, 1863. 

*Nordische, Heldenromane, von der Hagen, 1873. 

*Die Prosaische Edda, Wilken, 1878. 

*Volsunga Saga, Magnusson and Morris, 1870 (in English). 

Nibelvmgenlied (ed. Bartsch), 1895 ; Shumway, 1909. 

*Gudrun, Martin, 1902. 

*Corpus Poeticum Boreale, Vigfusson and Powell, 1883. 

Denkmaler deutscher Poesie und Prosa, MiiUenhofE and Scherer, 1892. 

Althoch deutsches Lesebuch, 1901. 

German Classics, Max MiiUer, 1886. 

Deutsches Heldenbuch (in five parts), 1866-78. 

Altdeutsche und Altnordische Heldensagen, 1872. 

Das deutsche Heldenbuch, Henrici (in vol. vii. of Klirschner's Deutsche 

National-Litteratur). 
Theodoric the Goth, T. Hodgkin. 

Epics and Romances of the Middle Ages, M. W. Macdowall, London, 1884. 
Deutsche Heldensagen, O. L. Jiriczek, 1898. 
*Northem Hero-Legends, M. Bentinck-Smith, 1902. 
*Tales from Teutonic Lands, Cox and Jones. 
Curious Myths of the Middle Ages, Baring-Gould. 

NoKSE AND Icelandic. 

(Most of these are included under " German," as deaMng with both 
literatures.) 

Sturlunga Saga (Vigfusson), 1879. 

The Story of Burnt Njal, Dasent, 1861. 

Historia Danica, Saxo-Grammaticus (ed. F. York Powell), 1894. 

Spanish. 

Romancero Castellano (ed. G. B. Depping), 1844. 

Silva de varies romances, Sarragossa, 1550. 

La Plor de varios y nuevos romances, A. de Villatta, Valencia, 1593. 

Poesias escogidas de nuestros cancioneros y romanceros antiguos, Madrid, 

1796. 
Tesoros de los romanceros, Paris, 1838. 
Sarmiento, Memorias para la historia de la poesia. 
Poesias selectas CasteUanos, Madrid, 1817. 
Romancero de romances, Duran, Madrid, 1832. 



MEDIAEVAL ROMANCE 395 

Spanish Ballads, Lockhart, 1823. 

Poesias Castellanos Anteriores al siglo XV., 1842. 

The CSd (trans, by Southey), in several cheap editions. 

Italian. 

Literature of the South of Europe, Sismondi (Eng. trans, by T. Roscoe), 

1823. 
Studj sulla Betteratura Italiana dei Primi secoli, d'Ancona, 1891. 
II Ponte dell' Ariosto, Ho Rajna. 
Orlando Furioso, Ariosto (Eng. trans, by Hoole). 
Carduino, A. Pucci (ed. RaJna), 1873. 
Stone Nerbonese, M. I. G. Isola, 1887. 
ReaU di Prancia, Andrea da Barberino (ed. P. Rajna and G. VandeUi), 

1872-1901: 
Jerusalem Delivered, Tasso (Eng. trans, by Hoole). 
Historia Trojana, Guido de Colorma, 1477 (Oxford ed. by Rood, 1480). 
Memoirs of Politiano, W. P. Greswell. 

DeUa Poesie di Antonio Pucci, Era Ildefonso di San Euigi, 1772. 
Orlando Innamorato, Boiardo (Panizzi), 1830. 



PBINIED BY WILLUM CLOWES AND SOUS, UHHBD, LONDOIf AND BEOOLBS.